Chasing pH (yeah)

[Arisbel]

Hi. Trying to get a good 8.3 pH, but it seems all my efforts have landed me at a steady 8.19 (max). Bothers me how it won’t reach 8.20, but I digress.



I have a calcium reactor, but recently added a mall stirrer into the mix JUST for pH. My tank sits “outside” in an enclosed part of my backyard which is connected to the main house as an extension so I can keep the windows open all day… which I do. And my max pH is 8.19?

My tank is 225Gs and my small stirrer doses 8.15ml a minute and I STILL can’t get it higher without nuking my tank with alk and calcium along with the 8.15ml from my CRx.

HOW do you achieve 8.3? Should I add a Co2 scrubber too? My skimmer is connected to an ozone generator which is connected to an air dryer next to an open window… even at night! I don’t get it!

 

[J1a]

Imo the first thing to be sure is that the pH meter is calibrated.

Secondly, you mentioned CRx. The effluent of CRx is low pH, while kalkwasser is high pH. Which one are you using?

 

[Arisbel]

Imo the first thing to be sure is that the pH meter is calibrated.

Secondly, you mentioned CRx. The effluent of CRx is low pH, while kalkwasser is high pH. Which one are you using?

The pH probe on my Apex is calibrated and accurate according to my Hanna pH checker as a reference.

I use both. However, I run my calcium reactor at 6.60+ at 8.15ml a minute. When I didn’t have kalk, my system was at a steady 8 pH and the dosage wasn’t split between the calcium reactor and the kalk stirrer like it is now. Which means the Calcium reactors dosage was closer to 20ml+ a minute and my pH was 8. So I don’t think it’s the calcium reactor.

 

[J1a]

The pH probe on my Apex is calibrated and accurate according to my Hanna pH checker as a reference.

I use both. However, I run my calcium reactor at 6.60+ at 8.15ml a minute. When I didn’t have kalk, my system was at a steady 8 pH and the dosage wasn’t split between the calcium reactor and the kalk stirrer like it is now. Which means the Calcium reactors dosage was closer to 20ml+ a minute and my pH was 8. So I don’t think it’s the calcium reactor.

So you reduced CRx and added some dosing from kalk. See some pH rise, but would like more?

 

[Arisbel]

So you reduced CRx and added some dosing from kalk. See some pH rise, but would like more?

The issue with doing that is magnesium. If I reduce the CRx, then magnesium wouldn’t be added in equal parts to Alk and calcium. Since Kalk doesn’t [usually] add magnesium, it would throw off my balance and magnesium would have to be supplemented from another source… which would basically make the existence of the CRx at that point redundant. No? Or am I very wrong?

 

[TX_Punisher]

Add remag pellets to your calcium reactor. TLF makes them. Start with a small amount And test until you find the amount that provides stability.

 

[J1a]

The issue with doing that is magnesium. If I reduce the CRx, then magnesium wouldn’t be added in equal parts to Alk and calcium. Since Kalk doesn’t [usually] add magnesium, it would throw off my balance and magnesium would have to be supplemented from another source… which would basically make the existence of the CRx at that point redundant. No? Or am I very wrong?

You are not wrong. In any case, kalk can only supply so much alk and calcium depending on your evaporation. CRx is still going to be your workhorse for supplement.

Back to your pH issue. Is the aquarium heavily stocked? Do you carbon dose? These have a potential to produce a lot of CO2 to drive down pH. Is your skimmer well sized? It will have an impact on how much CO2 can be out-gassed when skimmed with outdoor air.

 

[Arisbel]

You are not wrong. In any case, kalk can only supply so much alk and calcium depending on your evaporation. CRx is still going to be your workhorse for supplement.

Back to your pH issue. Is the aquarium heavily stocked? Do you carbon dose? These have a potential to produce a lot of CO2 to drive down pH. Is your skimmer well sized? It will have an impact on how much CO2 can be out-gassed when skimmed with outdoor air.

Yes my skimmer is well sized and I even have to dial it back a bit by turning it off for 4 hours every night. No, I don’t carbon dose. I run an algae scrubber that’s currently still breaking in. My tank has only 5 fish and they’re all babies (less than 2 inches). As for corals, we stocked.

Also, my kalk is ran by a doser, not by evaporation.

 

[Arisbel]

Add remag pellets to your calcium reactor. TLF makes them. Start with a small amount And test until you find the amount that provides stability.

Yes, I already have remag. I’m saying if I dial back the calcium reactor where the remag is and dose more from the kalk stirrer, then won’t my magnesium ratio be off balance from alk and calcium?

 

[Arisbel]

So… I guess I achieved what I wanted. My pH sits pretty at a constant 8.3-8.36 and I didn’t really touch anything. Guess that worked out!

 

[jmichaelh7]

So… I guess I achieved what I wanted. My pH sits pretty at a constant 8.3-8.36 and I didn’t really touch anything. Guess that worked out!

How did that happen?

I’m currently at 8.10 - 8.20 when media is changed on my co2 scrubber.

I have a calcium reactor and just ordered a Kalkwasser stirrer to chase pH . kind of what your initial post was on this thread.

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