Low PH problem

[sgarron]

I see this is a common problem, low ph that is. I've read all the threads and articles I could find but, I still have a ph of 7.8. It has actually been dropping to 7.65 at night. I recalibrated my reefkeeper and double checked it and it is correct.

My calcium is at 350, mag at 1300, dkh at 10. trates, trites, ammonia, all zero. I plan on straightening out my calcium issues this weekend.

I figured it was due to excess co2 in the house in the winter so I ran pvc pipe from the skimmer venturi, inside the wall, behind the crown moulding and out the side of the house. This was over a week ago and my ph is unchanged. I was able to bring it up temporarilly with baked baking soda but now that my dkh is 10, I can't do that any more. All my top off water runs through a kalk reactor. I have not set up the Ca reactor yet, don't want to lower it even more.

Everything in the tank seems to be doing quite well, but I'm still concerned. I want to get to 8.2 or 8.3.

HELP!!!

 

[JohnS_323]

...All my top off water runs through a kalk reactor. I have not set up the Ca reactor yet...

Wow, this was a shock. I fully expected it to be just the opposite. That's really strange. How much top-off water do you use daily? Have you tested the pH of the effluent from your kalk reactor? What type of kalk media are you using? I really think that the kalk reactor should be bringing your pH up since the effluent is typically in the 12.0 range.

 

[Phyl]

Can you run a fan over your sump to increase your evap? That should do 2 things... blow the CO2 off of the sump (especially an issue if there is a large gap from the water line in sump to the top of the sump where the gasses can escape) and increase your evaporation. The extra evap will allow you to top off with more Kalk.

I'd also install some big leafy plants near the tank/sump to help with the CO2, preferably in an area of good lighting.

 

[sgarron]

I'm using Seachem kalk, that's all the lfs had that day. I'll check the effluent ph tonight.

The fan sounds like a good idea, I'll try that this weekend.

As far as the plants go, I don't know. All my wife has to do is look at a plant and it turns brown. Maybe I can use that as an excuse to keep her out of my living room. LOL.

 

[MikeNapoli]

.As far as the plants go, I don't know. All my wife has to do is look at a plant and it turns brown. Maybe I can use that as an excuse to keep her out of my living room. LOL.

LMAO ...


As far as your low PH I have the same issue ... I'm getting a Kalk reactor soon.

But in the meantime what I've been doing is everytime I do a 30gallon water change (Once a Week) I raise the Ph in the change water to 8.25 with a Reef Buffer. I test my dKH, Mag and Calcium and I've managed to keep my Ph at 8.0 during the day and 7.9 at night. My Mag is 1350, Calcium 420, dKH 10, and I can't wait for the Kalk reactor to get here.

Try making sure your water change water is inline with it's Ph ... after mixing salt.