PH refuses to go up!!

[Hightower]

Ok been working to get the PH up for months now. Nothing has worked. Im at a deadend it seems and the xenia is taking it personally. PH refuses to go above 8.1 avg is 8.0 and goes to 7.9 at night.

I drip/topoff with kalk. Airpump running fresh air through airstones in sump to drive off excess carbon dioxide.

Alkalinity is at 10DKH
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1300
Nitrites/ammonia 0
Nitrates sit at 5 right now. usually 2 or less. (Water change coming up)

90 gal system with lots of flow, with a 10gal refug with cheato, and a 30gal sump with an ASM G2 that pulls a decent amount out.

The only time the PH goes up is when I add an alkalinity additive. Usually randly holmes farley recipe. Thats to be expected. But it doesnt stay up.

What else could it be????

[TheReefGeek]

You are seeing ill effects on xenia at 7.9-8.0 Ph? I would not expect that.

What is the Ph of your top off water (before kalk)? What is the Ph of your water change water?

[Chin_Lee]

those numbers are fine and I wouldn't be too worried about it. many other reefers have the same ph numbers including myself. Although you may wish to verify that your ph probe is calibrated properly - otherwise, don't mess with the water chemistry. my 2 cents

[Hightower]

Top off water is kalk. PH is 12.3

Water changes is usually at 7.8

I use RODI water

[Jason McK]

Ya I wouldn't worry about those numbers. it is more important to keep PH steady (which out are) that getting it higher. 8.1 is a good number and a night number 7.9 is pretty good.
J

[Aquaholic]

Well maybe you should go with "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

I don't worry to much about the numbers as long as everthing is doing well, and i keep up with water changes.

[Beverly]

The parameters you list look fine to me, also. I would second the idea of calibrating the pH probe just to make sure it's functioning properly.

As for your xenia, it might be reacting to a change in water current. My xenia, and I have lots of it in my 120g, falls over if I change the direction of water flow or if I reduce velocity.

[Hightower]

Ok maybe I shouldnt worry so much, but my torch coral and xenia have recently all melted away. everything else is healthy.

PH probe is 4mo old and calibrated 2 weeks ago. I was sure that coral like to have ph in the 8.3 range.

[hawaiiguy]

I'd agree with everyone else, your pH looks good. Your probably right, 8.3 is best but with your tank at 8.1, it's close enough. I don't think its worth messing with and taking the risk of sending pH skyrocketing out of range due to a mishap...

Perhaps the corals are struggling due to something else. What sort of lights do you have on them? How long are the lights on?

[Beverly]

Is your tank room well ventilated, or is it fairly well sealed?

Your change water pH seems a bit low. Are you vigorously aerating the NSW with a powerhead for 24 hrs before using?

The pH has been low in our three reefs lately. We have our windows open, have floor fans going day and night, and I dose kalk each night. Tanks are in our living/dining rooms. I've been fiddling with Randy's "baked" baking soda and baking soda recipe a bit lately, and recording proportions for each of my own recipes, so I can dose a bit of the "raise pH recipe" each day to raise pH. Am keeping records of pH before and after adding the mixture.

After two whole days of dosing and monitoring, I'm not noticing a huge change in pH, but I'm not expecting large changes with small daily does anyway. I'd be happy if morning pH rises .5 to 1 over the course of a week. Once I get pH up where I want it, pretty much anywhere between 8.0 and 8.4, I'll adjust the recipe to maintain pH instead of increasing it.

Sorry to hear about your corals