Help with pH

wingedfish · #1 09-28-2011, 12:43 PM

dosing a 2 month old tank will cause you to rip your hair out.

Gripenfelter · #2 09-28-2011, 02:46 PM

Seachem Buffer. Won't let you overdose.

How many fish do you have? Maybe you're over stocked?

Myka · #3 09-28-2011, 03:08 PM

pH is the most misunderstood parameter. Don't try to adjust the pH with chemical and additives, all that will accomplish is a short term change, and the pH will drift right back to where it was. Next thing you know alkalinity will be up at 15 dKH and you're still wondering why your pH is low. You can very easily have high alkalinity and low pH. Alkalinity does not directly affect pH.

With your tank being so new, it is not a surprise at all as it takes several months for a tank to settle in. How big is your tank? Are you using a protein skimmer?

the two most common causes of low pH are an inability to off-gas CO2 because either you aren't using a skimmer or your house isn't getting fresh air (can't get rid of CO2 if the skimmer is sucking in CO2), and high bioload (fish poop is acidic).

Aquattro · #4 09-28-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingedfish

dosing a 2 month old tank will cause you to rip your hair out.

lol, agreed

Oilers · #5 09-28-2011, 06:01 PM

I have a 150G tank and I have 2 cleaner shrimps, 2 fire shrimps, 30 hermit crabs, 10 snails, regal tang, yellow tang, sailfin tang, copperband butterfly, 2 percula clowns, 2 black clowns, coral beauty, naso tang, 2 chromis. Picked up a cleaner shrimp from Steve. Looking to add a flame angel later this week.

Gripenfelter · #6 09-28-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers

I have a 150G tank and I have 2 cleaner shrimps, 2 fire shrimps, 30 hermit crabs, 10 snails, regal tang, yellow tang, sailfin tang, copperband butterfly, 2 percula clowns, 2 black clowns, coral beauty, naso tang, 2 chromis. Picked up a cleaner shrimp from Steve. Looking to add a flame angel later this week.

What kind of skimmer are you running for that many fish?

Aquattro · #7 09-28-2011, 06:09 PM

You've got a hefty load in there for a new tank, I'd probably hold of on more additions until things level out. If the tank doesn't have enough bacteria to break down wastes, then some acids could remain, affecting your pH.

Oilers · #8 09-28-2011, 07:14 PM

I am using an Aqua C Remora pro skimmer. Looking to upgrade to a different skimmer soon. Ken from BWA recommended Bubble Magus skimmer. Has anybody used that brand before? What was your experience with it? Any other suggestion?

Gripenfelter · #9 09-28-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers

I am using an Aqua C Remora pro skimmer. Looking to upgrade to a different skimmer soon. Ken from BWA recommended Bubble Magus skimmer. Has anybody used that brand before? What was your experience with it? Any other suggestion?

Don't add any more fish till you get a better skimmer. When you get a better skimmer you will probably see a more stable PH as well.

The skimmer you have now is not up to the task for what you have in the tank.

Save up and get the skimmer first.

Cal_stir · #10 09-28-2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers

I am using an Aqua C Remora pro skimmer. Looking to upgrade to a different skimmer soon. Ken from BWA recommended Bubble Magus skimmer. Has anybody used that brand before? What was your experience with it? Any other suggestion?

I have a BM180-CS on my heavily stocked 90 gal, had it about 6 months now, no problems and works well, I also run a co2 scrubber on the air intake, boosted my ph 2 points and made the foam denser