My pH has been testing at 7.8 with the API kit. I've been dosing some seachem marine liquid buffer but still not seeing any difference. I've dosed 3 times in the past 4 days, still at 7.8. Any tips? Am I just wasting my time with a useless product?
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Interesting. I don't have any corals yet, it's a new setup. My alkalinity is currently at 9. I am a bit concerned because it was 8 or 8.2 a week ago. I live in a bottom-floor apartment, it's almost a basement and there are no windows in the living room where the tank is. Combined with having 3 roommates, I'm concerned about a buildup of CO2 lowering my pH. It's a 20 gallon tank with a powerhead and 2 HOB filters, I don't think water movement is the issue.
Just try to open your window as much as possible, it makes a big differenceInteresting. I don't have any corals yet, it's a new setup. My alkalinity is currently at 9. I am a bit concerned because it was 8 or 8.2 a week ago. I live in a bottom-floor apartment, it's almost a basement and there are no windows in the living room where the tank is. Combined with having 3 roommates, I'm concerned about a buildup of CO2 lowering my pH. It's a 20 gallon tank with a powerhead and 2 HOB filters, I don't think water movement is the issue.
Apologies, I wasn’t clear. My pH was at 8 or 8.2, not my alkalinity. I think my alkalinity was 10 a couple weeks ago, that’s the last time I had tested it. The pH dropped from 8/8.2 to 7.8.Yep, that's the issue with dosing any materials to raise pH: they all invariably raise alk as well. Buffers are among the worst for this as they have only a small pH raising effect and lots of alk boosting. When you need to dose alk, there are better choices.
It’s got bars on it so it can only open a crack, and it’s in another room but I will open it as much as possible.Just try to open your window as much as possible, it makes a big difference
Brand new tank... Don't worry about testing anything right now besides maybe nitrate and phosphate (and salinity of course). You're trying to fix a problem you don't have. Once you get algae growing and add livestock, your parameters will change. Many of us do not test pH AT ALL. Once your system is stable (it's gone through the uglies/algae cycle, you have all your equipment tuned, and you have a fair amount of other life in your tank), then consider testing pH but understand that chasing numbers can cause more problems than it fixes...Interesting. I don't have any corals yet, it's a new setup. My alkalinity is currently at 9. I am a bit concerned because it was 8 or 8.2 a week ago. I live in a bottom-floor apartment, it's almost a basement and there are no windows in the living room where the tank is. Combined with having 3 roommates, I'm concerned about a buildup of CO2 lowering my pH. It's a 20 gallon tank with a powerhead and 2 HOB filters, I don't think water movement is the issue.
Raising oxygen doesn't affect pH, lowering carbon dioxide does. If you're in the 7.8-8.2 range, you're fine. Did the lower value happen at a different time of day than the higher?Apologies, I wasn’t clear. My pH was at 8 or 8.2, not my alkalinity. I think my alkalinity was 10 a couple weeks ago, that’s the last time I had tested it. The pH dropped from 8/8.2 to 7.8.
I’m planning on getting some macroalgae to improve oxygenation.
It’s got bars on it so it can only open a crack, and it’s in another room but I will open it as much as possible.
Any other tips for me to raise oxygen?
Haha I’m sure you’re right…overstressing as always. And yes, I meant raising oxygen in proportion to CO2. To be honest I don’t remember the time of day the higher pH value was, but the lower one was taken in the evening.Brand new tank... Don't worry about testing anything right now besides maybe nitrate and phosphate (and salinity of course). You're trying to fix a problem you don't have. Once you get algae growing and add livestock, your parameters will change. Many of us do not test pH AT ALL. Once your system is stable (it's gone through the uglies/algae cycle, you have all your equipment tuned, and you have a fair amount of other life in your tank), then consider testing pH but understand that chasing numbers can cause more problems than it fixes...
Apologies, I wasn’t clear. My pH was at 8 or 8.2, not my alkalinity. I think my alkalinity was 10 a couple weeks ago, that’s the last time I had tested it. The pH dropped from 8/8.2 to 7.8.