Help. Need to drastically improve ph

[alindell]

This has been a frustrating struggle with ph. I've been dosing kalk continuously that helps keep up ph but it's still too low. Ph stats around 7.8 to 8. I'm trying to get keep it stable around 8.2. I put on a CO2 scrubber from fish of hex. I've got it hooked up to my skimmer for recirculation to improve my efficiency of my CO2 media but the media will prove effective for like a week and get too saturated with moisture and become useless. I then added a collection cup but even with the collection cup between media and skimmer the media still gets too much moisture. Ph I think is too low. I've opened windows in the basement added a fan but nothing really consistently helps. I've double checked readings to make sure it's accurate and it is. Is there anything I can dose or anything else that will increase ph. Im not going to use macro algea. That doesn't do anything

 

[alindell]

I know Chris meckly doses something that increases ph.

 

[Biokabe]

Why do you want to increase your pH?

I'm not ignorant of what the preferred pH level is. That's not what I'm asking about. What I am asking about is, what problem are you seeing in your tank that you believe will be improved by raising your pH?

 

[alindell]

No problem. I just think the increase would improve health and growth. Things would do better. That's the point the closer I can get to natural seawater the better

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know Chris meckly doses something that increases ph.

He supplements alkalinity with hydroxide. It can be done a couple of ways, but is only effective when alk demand is substantial.

 

[alindell]

What's the risk involved.

 

[Project1004]

Water changes always raises pH until next water changes. Good flow for air circulation and gas exchange.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What's the risk involved.

With what? There’s no significant tank risk to use kalkwasser or sodium hydroxide if you use it to replace alk as needed, and dose it slowly.

I do not recommend doing it as Chris does since his situation (more alk demand present than he can dose kalk) is not everyone’s situation.

 

[alindell]

I already use kalkwasser continuously. I keep my dog around 9. If I continue to dose more my alk goes too high

 

[alindell]

DKH not dog frickin auto correct

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Water changes always raises pH until next water changes. Good flow for air circulation and gas exchange.

I don’t see how that is true. New salt water may not even have pH as high as the tank if it is mixed in the same air, and pH equilibrates fairly rapidly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I already use kalkwasser continuously. I keep my dog around 9. If I continue to dose more my alk goes too high

Yes, that’s the limitation and it
Limits the pH boost you can get.

 

[alindell]

So anything else I can dose. Idk if you saw but Chris stated he does something else recently to chase ph. It was a newer video. I can't remember what it was called. Lanthum chloride or something idk. He said it's kinda dangerous but makes a huge difference

 

[mook1178]

No problem. I just think the increase would improve health and growth. Things would do better. That's the point the closer I can get to natural seawater the better

Natural seawater fluctuates around 8.0. If you don't have a problem, you are more likely to create a problem by messing with the tank, imho.

If you are not able to improve pH by opening windows, you will need to increase your alkalinity. Where do you currently keep your alk?

 

[Project1004]

I don’t see how that is true. New salt water may not even have pH as high as the tank if it is mixed in the same air, and pH equilibrates fairly rapidly.

Idk, every time I change my water pH raises least by 0.1. Maybe it’s because I’m doing it when oh is lower usually in the morning.

I think water change helps.

Edit: I’m going home and will do 5Gal WC on my main and see if it elevates pH. Will report back in few hours. PH will be at peace when I do it. Will see. I sow in the past dropping as well.

 

[alindell]

Natural seawater fluctuates around 8.0. If you don't have a problem, you are more likely to create a problem by messing with the tank, imho.

If you are not able to improve pH by opening windows, you will need to increase your alkalinity. Where do you currently keep your alk?

9

 

[alindell]

Idk, every time I change my water pH raises least by 0.1. Maybe it’s because I’m doing it when oh is lower usually in the morning.

I think water change helps.

Edit: I’m going home and will do 5Gal WC on my main and see if it elevates pH. Will report back in few hours. PH will be at peace when I do it. Will see. I sow in the past dropping as well.

It's only temporary

 

[Poseidon03]

You can draw in outside air to your skimmer. What coral are you trying to enhance the health in? pH has a more significant impact on corals that lay down a lot of skeleton. Things like GSP it would probably make less of an impact on.

 

[mook1178]

9

Do you have a high bioload in your tank?
An alk of 9 with atmospheric CO2 levels should be consistently higher than 8.0. But this is also why I do not chase pH. I don't even measure it.

 

[Project1004]

It's only temporary

Perhaps or we be doing a lots of water changes. Lol. That being said, you got good gas exchange and do good water changes I assume…