Any ideas about low pH?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Just a "for what it's worth" experience. I once found my pH was reading 7.6 or lower consistently. I panicked, and started trying to figure it out, tons of reading, a couple of discussions with Randy Holmes-Farley, testing at the LFS, etc. Realistically, if it was really 7.6 or lower, I should have seen my tank contents dissolving. I got new probes, new test kits, and kept getting low readings (I too was aggressive with my Ca reactor). I eventually solved my pH problem by throwing my meter over my back fence. That particualr tank went several more years successfully growing corals to the point I had to throw frags over the same back fence.

I think sometimes we worry too much about things we shouldn't...

Excellent post. Couldn't agree more.

Personally, I think if you've done everything to try to raise pH naturally and none of that works there is no reason to push the problem.

One other thing to think about is the fact that organic breakdown creates different acids as by-products. These acids will affect pH as well, so preventing organic breakdown is another way to raise pH. The use of a good skimmer to remove organics before they breakdown, well designed flow to prevent detritus settling and breaking down, light stocking of fish to minimize fish poop and excess food, and possibly the use of a filter sock or floss media to catch suspended materials (changed at least twice weekly) are all good ways to prevent organic breakdown.

Usually nitrate and phosphate are signs of organic breakdown, but a well maintained tank will process these nutrients so you don't get a reading on your test kits.