low ph

[grimmer]

hi

i tested my ph today and it is at 7.8 how do i get it up to 8.2 and main tan it

also my carbon hardness is 50ppg it should be 105 to 125

i us red sea salt and have a reverse omosis water need help thanks

[Myka]

I wouldn't mess with the pH directly with buffers that alter the pH directly. You can use baking soda to up the pH directly, but it will fall right back down to where it wants to be. 7.8 is not an issue, no need to panic, no need to even bother to change it. A steady pH is much more important than the "proper" pH, and using baking soda or any other buffers that directly alter the pH will cause your pH to fluctuate. That's not good.

Do you have a refugium? By adding a refugium with chaeto and having the lights on when the tank lights are off will help keep the pH from falling at night. This effect will usually raise the average daily pH as a side effect.

Do you have a skimmer or calcium reactor? Often low pH is caused by high dissolved CO2 (often just from having CO2 in the house from breathing and not having open windows). A skimmer helps to off gas CO2 (an airstone will do the same thing). This is why it's also important that you don't have a greasy protein buildup on the surface of your water. Gas exchange. If you have a calcium reactor, double check that CO2 isn't escaping into the tank. I've heard of the odd person having this issue.

Another thing that will lower pH is high nutrients. If there is a large amount of organic matter breaking down in the tank and going through the nitrogen cycle your pH will drop. A good indicator is the level of phosphate particularly, but also nitrate and/or nuisance algae.

Your low alkalinity could definitely be a contributing factor. You should actually aim for about 140-145 ppm KH or 8 dKH. An alkainity of 50 ppm is under 3 dKH, which is excessively low. If you have hard corals, their health is possibly at risk if this low level is maintained.

[whatcaneyedo]

Low pH: Causes and Cures
by Randy Holmes Farley
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

[grimmer]

how do i maintain alk at 125 to 145

[BlueTang<3]

when i started i had a 30 gallon cheap salt not a ton of surface agitation ph would always drop off on me put a hang on the back filter changed salt brands and never had had another problem with my ph or alk

[grimmer]

i started with oceanic salt but 1 month ago i bought red sea coral pro was this a mistake

[PuffLuv]

Originally Posted by grimmer

i started with oceanic salt but 1 month ago i bought red sea coral pro was this a mistake

I've had good success in the past with Oceanic salt.

[BlueTang<3]

I am not cutting down salt lol what size of tank is it smaller tanks need surface agitation to release the c02 out of. The whater smaller tanks leess whater volume changes a lot easier and faster than lots of water I cured me problem switching to a hang on the back filter all I run is the aqua clear 70 on my. 30 run. The sponge and then just filter floss from a fabric shop. Gives you a break in the surface and crystal clear water

[wickedfrags]

Some excellent info and resources provided above.

In my 10 years doing this low pH has never truely impacted my tank in a significant manner. As noted above, consistent pH is more important that pH level. I maintain a pH fluxuation of 0.1, again using some of the techniques noted above.

Maintaining consistent alkalinity is much more important than concerns regarding pH, again IME.

[grimmer]

the tank is 120 gallon 100 or more pounds of live rock

how do you keep alk at the disired levels with good salt ?