Can low calcium cause bigger ph swings??

[Tmanwa]

So parameter are 350 cal
9.0 alk 1250 mag ph fluctuations from 7.9-7.6 in a 110 gal tank I’ve slowly added calcium to raise my levels and have noticed my ph starting to stabilize at 8.1-8.0 now will be testing tonight to see what my levels are now but has anyone seen something similar as far as less of a ph swing??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So parameter are 350 cal
9.0 alk 1250 mag ph fluctuations from 7.9-7.6 in a 110 gal tank I’ve slowly added calcium to raise my levels and have noticed my ph starting to stabilize at 8.1-8.0 now will be testing tonight to see what my levels are now but has anyone seen something similar as far as less of a ph swing??

I'm not sure what you are asking. Calcium levels do not impact the pH swing or the absolute pH.

pH swing is determined by the level of aeration (complete aeration = no swing, but few see that), the alkalinity (higher alk gives a lower swing) and the amount of photosynthesis (more gives a higher swing).

 

[Tmanwa]

Lol I was taught that carbon dioxide was the only factor to ph swings and was noticing the ph swing was a smaller amount daily so was trying to pinpoint it thinking what I was taught was not the only variable. The only thing I could think I changied in the last few days was getting my calcium level up then it hit me I removed all my fish to qt for a brook outbreak and I’m thinking that removing the fish was the factor due to less carbon dioxide in the tank from the fish lol correct me if I’m wrong Mr Randy Holmes Farley

 

[Tmanwa]

I'm not sure what you are asking. Calcium levels do not impact the pH swing or the absolute pH.

pH swing is determined by the level of aeration (complete aeration = no swing, but few see that), the alkalinity (higher alk gives a lower swing) and the amount of photosynthesis (more gives a higher swing).

Lol I was taught that carbon dioxide was the only factor to ph swings and was noticing the ph swing was a smaller amount daily so was trying to pinpoint it thinking what I was taught was not the only variable. The only thing I could think I changied in the last few days was getting my calcium level up then it hit me I removed all my fish to qt for a brook outbreak and I’m thinking that removing the fish was the factor due to less carbon dioxide in the tank from the fish lol correct me if I’m wrong Mr Randy Holmes Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Lol I was taught that carbon dioxide was the only factor to ph swings and was noticing the ph swing was a smaller amount daily so was trying to pinpoint it thinking what I was taught was not the only variable. The only thing I could think I changied in the last few days was getting my calcium level up then it hit me I removed all my fish to qt for a brook outbreak and I’m thinking that removing the fish was the factor due to less carbon dioxide in the tank from the fish lol correct me if I’m wrong Mr Randy Holmes Farley

In addition to CO2, three other things impact the size of the pH swing.

1. The alkalinity. Since the bicarbonate/carbonate system acts as a strong buffer to ph swings in a reef tank, higher alkalinity provides more buffering. At a given pH, twice the alkalinity leads to half the ph swing size.

2. The absolute pH. within the range of pH that reef tank experience, the higher the ph, the smaller the ph swing because carbonate/bicarbonate and borate/boric acid are both better buffers at higher pH.

3. The amount of borate present. More borate means more buffering so the pH swing is smaller.

 

[The Last Strider]

I know this is an old post but I searched because I experienced the same. My Calcium was slightly below 400 for months and I bumped it up to 430 over night. The result was a higher ph peak and and less of a swing for the past few days.

I was normally getting a peak of 8.31 and a low of 8.14. Now I’m getting a high of 8.36 and a low of 8.19

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know this is an old post but I searched because I experienced the same. My Calcium was slightly below 400 for months and I bumped it up to 430 over night. The result was a higher ph peak and and less of a swing for the past few days.

I was normally getting a peak of 8.31 and a low of 8.14. Now I’m getting a high of 8.36 and a low of 8.19

What did you boost it with?

Calcium generally has no impact on pH. Only alkalinity and CO2 impact pH.

 

[The Last Strider]

What did you boost it with?

Calcium generally has no impact on pH. Only alkalinity and CO2 impact pH.

BRS calcium chloride. I do run a co2 scrubber. But the only thing I did different was add the calcium overnight.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

BRS calcium chloride. I do run a co2 scrubber. But the only thing I did different was add the calcium overnight.

I can’t see the calcium addition being causative.