How can I raise PH?

[Nolan Cash]

I just got and setup an Aquatop 40 AIO about a week ago.. did some research and talked to my LFS and came to the conclusion to add love rock, sand, and active media. I let the tank run for 48 hours and added two clowns and 5 hermits to help the cycling process.

I do water tests about every day. The fish and crabs seem very healthy and are eating as normal. The water tests come back and say that my PH is at 7.4 according to API.. i tested two days in a row and got the same result.

I did some research and tried an easy solution of opening my window a bit and running a fan in the room, since the tank is in a basement, it doesn’t get a lot of airflow.

PH is still at about 7.4.. any suggestions are welcome, thanks.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Any way to increase oxygen in the tank will work. Like said, opening a window usually works. You could also try adding macroalgae. There are also chemical options out there.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I just got and setup an Aquatop 40 AIO about a week ago.. did some research and talked to my LFS and came to the conclusion to add love rock, sand, and active media. I let the tank run for 48 hours and added two clowns and 5 hermits to help the cycling process.

I do water tests about every day. The fish and crabs seem very healthy and are eating as normal. The water tests come back and say that my PH is at 7.4 according to API.. i tested two days in a row and got the same result.

I did some research and tried an easy solution of opening my window a bit and running a fan in the room, since the tank is in a basement, it doesn’t get a lot of airflow.

PH is still at about 7.4.. any suggestions are welcome, thanks.

API tests are not amazing. Do you have any other means of testing? Would you be able to bring a water sample to your LFS for testing?

 

[Nolan Cash]

API tests are not amazing. Do you have any other means of testing? Would you be able to bring a water sample to your LFS for testing?

Is there a tester that is accurate? My LFS is not much of a LFS as it is 45 minutes away lol.

 

[faketaxi]

Is there a tester that is accurate? My LFS is not much of a LFS as it is 45 minutes away lol.

Hanna makes a ph tester like the salinity one that you can dip into the tank for around $50. I have no opinion as I have not used it personally, but having used other Hanna testers I have nothing bad to say about the brand, gets the job done for me.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Agreed with faketaxi, Hanna is a good choice. I have their other type of ph meter (colorimeter based) and that one works very very well.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I just got and setup an Aquatop 40 AIO about a week ago.. did some research and talked to my LFS and came to the conclusion to add love rock, sand, and active media. I let the tank run for 48 hours and added two clowns and 5 hermits to help the cycling process.

I do water tests about every day. The fish and crabs seem very healthy and are eating as normal. The water tests come back and say that my PH is at 7.4 according to API.. i tested two days in a row and got the same result.

I did some research and tried an easy solution of opening my window a bit and running a fan in the room, since the tank is in a basement, it doesn’t get a lot of airflow.

PH is still at about 7.4.. any suggestions are welcome, thanks.

I will also note that if your salinity and alkalinity are where they should be, I really doubt your ph is that low. Highly recommend making an investment in either Hanna or Salifert test kits. They’ll pay for themselves and save you money in the long run by giving you accurate results
.

 

[lil sumpin]

Tank is likely too young to sustain macros. Figure out how to get more surface agitation and consider getting a protein skimmer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree the pH of 7.4 is likely test error. I also would not worry about pH in a week old tank.

I would not use any pH test kit since there's no easy way to validate them for accuracy.

A decent pH meter might be useful in the future, but it's not a "now" need.

This has a lot more:

pH and the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

by Randy Holmes-Farley For many aquarists, pH is not something that they have much experience with aside from their aquarium. For many, pH is almost a black box measurement: something to be considered, but whose physical meaning makes little sense to them. This article will Read more here...

www.reefedition.com

 

[faketaxi]

Agreed with faketaxi, Hanna is a good choice. I have their other type of ph meter (colorimeter based) and that one works very very well.

I also have had my tank for almost a year and have not tested ph once so there’s that as well lol

 

[crazyfishmom]

I also have had my tank for almost a year and have not tested ph once so there’s that as well lol

Lol shame… shame… shame.