Best way to raise Ph?

jahel318 · 08/09/2019, 12:12 PM

I'm struggling with my low Ph levels that linger around 7.2-7.4 n my 45 gal. reef tank....What should I do? All my other parameters are normail.

ohashimz · 08/09/2019, 12:55 PM

These are some of the ways to improve ph:

- Opening a window and letting fresh air

- Connect tubing to the skimmer air inlet and have the tubing extended to the outside

- using kalkwiser

- increase airiation by dropping an airstone

- co2 scrubber, it's very effective but you will need to buy media and change when its depleted.

mcgyvr · 08/09/2019, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jahel318

I'm struggling with my low Ph levels that linger around 7.2-7.4 n my 45 gal. reef tank....What should I do? All my other parameters are normail.

Are you sure those readings are accurate?
That is quite bad and would indicate potentially big issues like excessive trapped Co2/very poor water circulation,etc...

Do you have a skimmer?
How about powerheads?
Any water flow/movement?
Have you measured alk and cal levels?
Tested for ammonia?

hkgar · 08/09/2019, 02:41 PM

How are you testing? I have to agree with mcgyver, hard to imagine those readings are accurate.

bertoni · 08/09/2019, 02:51 PM

7.2 generally isn't possible in a reef tank. The live rock would be dissolving. Unless your animals are having problems, I'd suggest ignoring the pH reading. Otherwise, we need to troubleshoot the measurement. What kind of equipment are you using?

ohashimz · 08/09/2019, 02:55 PM

Agree with above comments. Value is highly unlikely. Pg probs can be unreliable. I would check the value with calibrated prob or seprate test method.

Uncle99 · 08/09/2019, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jahel318

I'm struggling with my low Ph levels that linger around 7.2-7.4 n my 45 gal. reef tank....What should I do? All my other parameters are normail.

If your PH was that low, your other parameters would not be “normal”
If your sure parameters are on point, the PH reading is inaccurate.

jahel318 · 08/11/2019, 07:35 AM

I have an mp10 and 2 powerbeads. Ph today was 7.4. However I did notice 4 test kits were expired so I was possibly getting incorrect readings. I have ordered new kits and I will doing a water change in meantime. I also will be setting up an ATO reservoir this week and dosing Kalkwasser to help keep parameters more stable. THANKS TO ALL l for your input as I was going crazy over trying to solve something that could have been so simple if I would have just asked beforehand. Hopefully I can get all my readings back to normal soon.

HumbleFish · 08/11/2019, 09:56 AM

It's only a temporary fix but:

Spread baking soda onto a clean baking sheet, and bake at 300F for 1 hour. This process drives off carbon dioxide and water from the baking soda, and the result is an effective pH buffer. You will need to experiment (start with a very small amount) to determine how much is needed to raise your pH to the desired level.

hkgar · 08/11/2019, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

It's only a temporary fix but:

Spread baking soda onto a clean baking sheet, and bake at 300F for 1 hour. This process drives off carbon dioxide and water from the baking soda, and the result is an effective pH buffer. You will need to experiment (start with a very small amount) to determine how much is needed to raise your pH to the desired level.

All that does is give you a very temporary increase. And probably increasing dKH.

I use a baking soda mix to increase dKH (supplement the Ca reactor) but never to chase ph. It does not work to chase ph.

bertoni · 08/11/2019, 07:44 PM

Even 7.4 is suspiciously low. I don't trust those test kits just yet.

bnumair · 08/12/2019, 01:15 AM

ALL pH increasing agents/chemicals are alkalinity increasing agents with little/temp high effect on pH.
Best way to increase pH is to reduce CO2 levels in and around the water.
CO2 scrubbers work well, refugium on an opposite schedule increases pH.
Air from outside the house into skimmer etc are few known remedies to increase pH.

08/09/2019, 12:12 PM	#1
jahel318 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 422	Best way to raise Ph? I'm struggling with my low Ph levels that linger around 7.2-7.4 n my 45 gal. reef tank....What should I do? All my other parameters are normail.

08/09/2019, 02:41 PM	#4
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	How are you testing? I have to agree with mcgyver, hard to imagine those readings are accurate. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/09/2019, 02:51 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	7.2 generally isn't possible in a reef tank. The live rock would be dissolving. Unless your animals are having problems, I'd suggest ignoring the pH reading. Otherwise, we need to troubleshoot the measurement. What kind of equipment are you using? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/11/2019, 07:44 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Even 7.4 is suspiciously low. I don't trust those test kits just yet. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/12/2019, 01:15 AM	#12
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	ALL pH increasing agents/chemicals are alkalinity increasing agents with little/temp high effect on pH. Best way to increase pH is to reduce CO2 levels in and around the water. CO2 scrubbers work well, refugium on an opposite schedule increases pH. Air from outside the house into skimmer etc are few known remedies to increase pH. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

08/09/2019, 12:55 PM	#2
ohashimz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 276	These are some of the ways to improve ph: - Opening a window and letting fresh air - Connect tubing to the skimmer air inlet and have the tubing extended to the outside - using kalkwiser - increase airiation by dropping an airstone - co2 scrubber, it's very effective but you will need to buy media and change when its depleted.

08/09/2019, 02:55 PM	#6
ohashimz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 276	Agree with above comments. Value is highly unlikely. Pg probs can be unreliable. I would check the value with calibrated prob or seprate test method.

08/11/2019, 07:35 AM	#8
jahel318 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 422	I have an mp10 and 2 powerbeads. Ph today was 7.4. However I did notice 4 test kits were expired so I was possibly getting incorrect readings. I have ordered new kits and I will doing a water change in meantime. I also will be setting up an ATO reservoir this week and dosing Kalkwasser to help keep parameters more stable. THANKS TO ALL l for your input as I was going crazy over trying to solve something that could have been so simple if I would have just asked beforehand. Hopefully I can get all my readings back to normal soon.

08/11/2019, 09:56 AM	#9
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	It's only a temporary fix but: Spread baking soda onto a clean baking sheet, and bake at 300F for 1 hour. This process drives off carbon dioxide and water from the baking soda, and the result is an effective pH buffer. You will need to experiment (start with a very small amount) to determine how much is needed to raise your pH to the desired level.