Ph

[dudley moray]

Hi I'm having trouble getting my ph up it seems to hover around the 7.97-8.05
range, no matter how big a water change or what I dose
The only major change I've made is taking my bio pellets off line and replacing them with a poly filter I use aquavitro salt and dose with aquavitro chems any ideas ?

[Magickiwi]

Check your testing methods. What are you using to test: probe, chemical test etc? What specific alkalinity supplement are you using? What are your calcium levels? Are you using GFO or other phosphate reducers? What is your alkalinity level?

[mrhasan]

My question would be: what's the problem of having that ph range?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

My question would be: what's the problem of having that ph range?

And that would be the correct question

[Reefer Rob]

I kept an SPS tank for years with a PH in that range. I wouldn't sweat it.

[dudley moray]

I have an apex with ph probe I use aquavitro 8.4 and balance as well as ions and calcification the salt mix is supposed to give these levels
Cal-400-443mg/l
Mag1269-1403mg/l
Ph8.40-8.60
Alk3.2-3.8meq/l
Mine should be that as I only do 30%~50% water changes weekly and dose a teaspoon of the three (and a tiny bit of balance when ph get below 8) in fresh water top offs throughout the week I don't test most parameters any more only phosphorus and ph I do run carbon and a tablespoon on phoslock in a reactor
The reason I ask is because I'm having trouble with phosphate and I'm sure it's low ph allowing it to be released from the rock

[Reefer Rob]

I don't think that PH level will dissolve your rock. If your rock has PO4 it will leach regardless of the PH. I would increase you GFO amount and change it more frequently until you have the PO4 under control. As well I would look for the other sources of PO4.

[Reefer Rob]

BTW is Phoslock lanthanum chloride?

[mrhasan]

I don't have any knowledge regarding the low ph being responsible (or not responsible) for leaching po4 from the rocks. I am assuming that you are using dry rocks? Possibly that's enough to leach po4 rather than the ph. The only time ph would cause any significant issue is when it starts to approach the neutral level (7.0) which is not very easy to do unless you have a sudden decrease in oxygen level or keep the tank in an airtight area. To me, 8.4 and balance would be a very poor thing to add to the tank due to the fact that it gives a temporary boost and then will go back to the "equilibrium" that you tank maintains; the primary factor (I think) would be the ventilation in the room.

[Myka]

Your tank would have to be around pH 6 to start dissolving any bound phosphate. Needless to say, I don't think your tanks' inhabitants would be doing very well at that pH.

A pH around 8.0 is nothing to worry about, but if you're that concerned, the CO2 released from human and animal respiration impacts pH by lowering it. The amount of CO2 in a home is often significantly higher in the winter months when windows and doors are kept closed. Better air exchange near the sump can make a big difference as well as airing the house out a few times per week by opening a couple windows and allowing a breeze to go through for awhile. Try this before messing around with the pH directly. If you're messing around with the pH directly you're very likely casing pH swings which stress the inhabitants more by leaps and bounds.