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Low PH problem

jgraz

jgraz

Problem:
So I have been noticing a pretty steep drop in PH ever since starting the Calcium Reactor. I regularly see 7.7 at night and 7.85 during the day. Prior to adding the reactor it was normally 7.9-8.0. Oddly enough the reactor has a second chamber that is said buffer the water back to a normal PH. I can't imaging what it would be like without the second chamber. To compound my issue, my sump and all filtration is in the basement where CO2 is probably quite high. While I was fine with the PH before the reactor, 7.7PH is just to low for my liking.

Combating the issue:
I do run a reverse light cycle on my refugium and macro appears to be growing quite well. I know this can help so I leave as is. Would running 24Hrs help more?

I had though of running the air line from my skimmer to the outside but this is something that is not easily achieved with the skimmer in the basement and the air line on the SWC skimmer is pretty narrow to begin with, I imaging running a long airline might just restrict it.

CO2 Scrubber-I had considered this but considering my situation I imagine I would be going through the media pretty quick. Cost wise It would not excite me.

Kalk-I was thinking of adding Kalk in one way or another. I know there are reactors, stirrers, drippers and such. I am a set it and forget it guy so I was considering just adding to my top off reservoir.

Finally, back to dosing. This is something I am seriously considering.

Thoughts everyone?
 
TanksNStuff

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
John, I think your best option might be dosing. Preferably using a dosing pump on a timer as opposed to manually dosing by hand to keep it steadier throughout the day.

Running the fuge light for a longer period may help some too. I don't think I would go 24/7 though because some say the macro needs some dark time to "rest" it's growth.

I don't think running the skimmers air line that far would be a good idea unless you used some sort of rigid tubing. Even then, with any bends and just the overall distance itself might still restrict it as you said.

I have no experience with a CO2 scrubber, so can't comment on that.
 
M

Mike S

When I ran into the same issue I shared the same concern about a long piece of tubing restricting air flow to my skimmer. I ended to running 1/2 inch pvc pipe most of the way with a short run of poly tubing to connect it to my skimmer. It didn't have any noticeable effect on the air flow and stabilized my pH fluctuations.
 
jgraz

jgraz

Mike S said:
When I ran into the same issue I shared the same concern about a long piece of tubing restricting air flow to my skimmer. I ended to running 1/2 inch pvc pipe most of the way with a short run of poly tubing to connect it to my skimmer. It didn't have any noticeable effect on the air flow and stabilized my pH fluctuations.
Click to expand...


HMMMMM,
Did you run that outside? Something else I had thought of was things getting inside the tube like bugs and such. Also how did you connect the airline to the PVC?
 
M

Mike S

Yep I ran the pvc straight to the outside. I think I connected it with one of those pvc nipples but I can confirm that tonight. I though about bugs also and put some mesh on the end. That reminds me i should probably check to make sure it is ok. It's been a few years and no issues so far.
 
downbeach

downbeach

The easiest/cheapest way would be to run an air line to an outside air source if practicable. You could place a sponge like filter on the outside opening of the tube to prevent any critters from getting in and blocking the tube. Another thought here would be to add a GAC filter in line with the tubing to ensure you're not inducing any unwanted chemicals into your skimmer, i.e. bug spray, etc. Secondly, would be to add kalk to your top off water. A CO2 scrubber can help too, but the Soda Lime can get expensive. I couldn't get to an outside air source, so I did the Kalk along with a CO2 srubber when the house was closed up.
 
jgraz

jgraz

So perhaps I'll give the air line a shot first and see where that gets me. If I still need to move up a bit I'll go with Kalk in the top off. I add quite a bit through the reactor already so I know I could pretty much do full saturation which is roughly 3 tsp per gal right? My biggest issue there is that I just open a valve to refill my ATO reservoir right now. If I go with kalk I suppose I'll have to mix first in a different container then add to the reservoir right? But if only so much can dissolve in solution anyway is there any reason not to just dump a large amount into the reservoir and let it dissolve as I refill each time? Of course I would keep the pump suspended and out of the slurry.
 
jgraz

jgraz

Jim, your recommendation of a GAC filter in line, would that be a simple as using a small bag of carbon stuffed into the pvc pipe I use?
 
downbeach

downbeach

You might be alright doing it that way, as long as your top off pump isn't adding too much at one time. Another option would be to use a dosing pump, and dose fully saturated (2tsp./gal.)lime water just a bit lower than your normal evaporation, and let your top off make up the difference.
 
jgraz

jgraz

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and help. Got a bit of thinking to do. I have been considering going back to dosing 2-part so ultimately that should solve the issue by itself, and I have everything on hand already so that's an upside. but I went to the calcium reactor for the ease and savings over time. So really its gonna be a toss up. I think first I see about tying the skimmer line to the outside and see where that gets me.
 
Juano908

Juano908

John I've been having the same pH problem with my tank, I'm dosing the DIY 2 part Alk & Cal. I dose Cal when the lights are on and Alk when the lights are off.
last night my pH was 7.86 @ 10:00 and this morning pH was 7.64 @ 6:45.....Rob was telling me about how stables his parameters has became since he started using pickling lime water on his ATO, I'm thinking to switch from the 2 parts to pickling lime.
 
downbeach

downbeach

jgraz said:
Jim, your recommendation of a GAC filter in line, would that be a simple as using a small bag of carbon stuffed into the pvc pipe I use?
Click to expand...

I guess you could do that, as long as it didn't restrict the air flow. I had an old RO unit I used to make both a CO2 scrubber and an air filter, the only difference was the media that was used, i.e. Soda Lime for CO2, GAC for air. I use the CO2 on my system and gave the other one away.

CO2Reactor_zpsf9aabee3.jpg
 
mrehfeld

mrehfeld

Officer Emeritus
I use a Gatorade bottle with holes drilled in the bottom, the soda lime is changed when it turns purple.
 
jgraz

jgraz

downbeach said:
I guess you could do that, as long as it didn't restrict the air flow. I had an old RO unit I used to make both a CO2 scrubber and an air filter, the only difference was the media that was used, i.e. Soda Lime for CO2, GAC for air. I use the CO2 on my system and gave the other one away.

CO2Reactor_zpsf9aabee3.jpg
Click to expand...

That should be easy enough/ I have plenty laying around
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

as i recall phyl and john used to have a kalk reactor and a calcium reactor - with the kalk acting as a buffer to keep the ph up.
 
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