Any ideas about low pH?

nlreefguy · #1 12-30-2010, 02:27 PM

sorry for not mentioning the mag - it's always 1300 or higher. Don't you think that the skimmer is enough to keep the tank aerated? Just wondering.... I'll try that though, it's easy enough to try.

nlreefguy · #2 12-30-2010, 02:28 PM

oh yeah, and I have an orp probe that always reads over 400 and is calibrated frequently.

sphelps · #3 12-30-2010, 02:39 PM

Low pH is usually from CO2 content. Many people who run Ca reactors experience lower pH. Some possible solutions:

Introduce fresh air by running skimmer air intake to outside air
Reverse refugium lighting (refugium lights on when tank lights off)
Supplement Ca and Alk with Kalkwasser or Calcium Hydroxide (reacts with CO2 and maintains high pH)

wickedfrags · #4 12-30-2010, 03:44 PM

The commonts below are accurate. In addition, and as noted previously, keeping pH is consistent is the main concern.

Over my years of reefing I always had a lower pH due to how aggesively I ran my calcium reactor..........it never impacted my corals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

Low pH is usually from CO2 content. Many people who run Ca reactors experience lower pH. Some possible solutions:

Introduce fresh air by running skimmer air intake to outside air
Reverse refugium lighting (refugium lights on when tank lights off)
Supplement Ca and Alk with Kalkwasser or Calcium Hydroxide (reacts with CO2 and maintains high pH)

nlreefguy · #5 12-30-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

The commonts below are accurate. In addition, and as noted previously, keeping pH is consistent is the main concern.

Over my years of reefing I always had a lower pH due to how aggesively I ran my calcium reactor..........it never impacted my corals.

Thanks for your input. I think I'll go with a kalk reactor for now. It will automate my top off and ca/alk supplementation and fix the pH problem at the same time. I have a reactor hanging around so I'll give it a shot.

abcha0s · #6 12-31-2010, 05:26 PM

I'd check your probe calibration. Maybe your test kit is giving a false reading and your probe is calibrated to an incorrect set point. If your using a calibration solution, make sure that it is temperature adjusted. Clean the probe before calibrating, but let it readjust to the tank water for a day or so first.

Try testing a cup of water outside of the tank. Perhaps there is interference, from stray voltages or other probes.

I think with some controllers, the temperature probe acts as a ground. Try moving the Ph probe closer or further from the temp probe.

Take your test kit to a LFS and test their water. See if they get the same result with their probe or test kit. I had a similar problem and when I replaced my controller the new Ph measurements were much closer to where I wanted them to be. Lots of testing later, I decided it was accurate.

What you reay don't want to is to increase your Ph to 9.0 because your reading was out by .5

- Brad

Aquattro · #7 12-31-2010, 05:38 PM

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...

fishytime · #8 12-30-2010, 02:42 PM

my ph drops a little in the winter when the house is all closed up......I think people worry to much about what their ph is....I say, if your big three are good and stable and your ph is somewhat stable(you can expect small swings because of photosynthesis, with your light cycle) then dont worry about it

.....

nlreefguy · #9 12-30-2010, 03:34 PM

the fresh air is a good idea. I don't have a ca reactor. The probes are calibrated frequently and were just replaced recently. I do run the refugium on a reverse daylight cycle but it doesn't seem to matter.

I hear you about worrying about the big three only, but I've always found that when I do manage to get the pH up, the corals have always responded well because of it, look healthier and have better PE and growth.

I think I'll set up a kalk reactor for top-off.

reefwars · #10 12-30-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlreefguy

sorry for not mentioning the mag - it's always 1300 or higher. Don't you think that the skimmer is enough to keep the tank aerated? Just wondering.... I'll try that though, it's easy enough to try.

a skimmer is enough to keep your tank oxygenated but there still has to be a decent exchange of fresh air and gases like an open top or sump. i dont think its your major problem but allowing in some fresh air wont hurt.

you can use buffers to raise your ph but id find out what your problem is first.i know you said yoiur using a controller but off hand i cant remember if you said the probes are calibrated??