Low PH, advice?

[reeferfoxx]

Tell you what, i'm on a Eizo coloredge calibrated monitor and according to your exposures, you show more red than orange. I would say your pH is right at 8.0.

 

[Jakepen]

I had to google those words you just said. Fancy!! Well that's a relief, I'll test again tomorrow, than a few days after as well. I tested my calcium again, and it still was reading 500. Unless I'm doing it wrong? It's the salifert kit

 

[clowner]

Have you looked into a buffer

 

[reeferfoxx]

I had to google those words you just said. Fancy!! Well that's a relief, I'll test again tomorrow, than a few days after as well. I tested my calcium again, and it still was reading 500. Unless I'm doing it wrong? It's the salifert kit

I'm a digital intermediate colorist by day and reefer by night :-)

If your tank really is plagued with co2, I would say that your crushed coral is dissolving and raising your calcium. Hopefully Randy will chime in. He's better suited for those types of questions.

 

[Jakepen]

[HASHTAG]#Randy[/HASHTAG]!!! Thanks for your help man, really appreciate it.

 

[Jakepen]

Magnesium is 1400. @Randy Holmes-Farley . I would love an opinion on these readings, if you have a moment. Thank you.

 

[Jakepen]

Ammonia is zero nitirites zero, still have a reading of trates, around 3. Will be doing another water change tomorrow. Basically want to know, if these numbers are safe for coral.

 

[nervousmonkey]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the calcium or mag levels, they'll self correct in time and are not going to cause any harm at those levels.
Great article from Randy here on the relationship between pH, calc and mag:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/

I would bet a ghost stylo that the reason why your pH is low is CO2. Put that CO2 scrubber on your tank with an canister from BRS and you'll see it rise in half a day. Try Med-Vet International for soda lime, $7. Costs more to ship than the soda lime itself. That said, byproducts from cycling will keep your pH low, but not that low. It has to be CO2.
FWIW, I had a FW planted tank injected with CO2 in the same room as my reef and when I took the FW CO2 offline, pH went up, then added a soda lime scrubber and it's always 8.2-8.3.

 

[Joeganja]

My ph is low. Around 7.5. Sometimes even lower. My alkalinity is 9.2-9.3 dkh. I did the test that Randy had in his article and it turned out I have too much co2 in my house. Here's the problem however. I threw on a co2 scrubber last week and I see no change in pH. I am dosing brs 2 part with a bubble dosing pump I just bought so the idea of limewater or kalkwasser isn't really the way to go for me. I already spent an upwards of $350 just to maintain calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. So what would anyone suggest?

 

[nervousmonkey]

My ph is low. Around 7.5. Sometimes even lower. My alkalinity is 9.2-9.3 dkh. I did the test that Randy had in his article and it turned out I have too much co2 in my house. Here's the problem however. I threw on a co2 scrubber last week and I see no change in pH.

I'm still going with too much CO2 in the house. Can you open some windows near the tank? You're in Modesto, so not that cold. I'd say more than 99% of the time when there is low pH and normal alk, it's a CO2 issue. You've already proven that and the CO2 scrubber isn't working (you connected it to air intake of skimmer, correct), so try to get good air in your house. You could even run a line from a window to your skimmer intake and try that...

 

[Joeganja]

I'm still going with too much CO2 in the house. Can you open some windows near the tank? You're in Modesto, so not that cold. I'd say more than 99% of the time when there is low pH and normal alk, it's a CO2 issue. You've already proven that and the CO2 scrubber isn't working (you connected it to air intake of skimmer, correct), so try to get good air in your house. You could even run a line from a window to your skimmer intake and try that...

I would but my tank is about 20 feet away from all windows so it's not exactly the best thing to run a line.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Magnesium is 1400. @Randy Holmes-Farley . I would love an opinion on these readings, if you have a moment. Thank you.

Which readings? Magnesium at 1400 ppm is fine. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

[HASHTAG]#Randy[/HASHTAG]!!! Thanks for your help man, really appreciate it.

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[Jakepen]

Also why am I getting such high levels of calcium?

 

[120reefkeeper]

Sorry wrong spot lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Also why am I getting such high levels of calcium?

490 ppm calcium is not that high, and is present in some salt mixes at that level. Even 550 ppm calcium is not a concern. :)

 

[Jakepen]

490 ppm calcium is not that high, and is present in some salt mixes at that level. Even 550 ppm calcium is not a concern. :)

Oh, alright. Well awesome, thank you. So all my numbers appear to be okay than right?

 

[FishOfHex]

Hey guys, my PH holds pretty strong at 7.6. I have the RKL with pinpoint PH Probe. 30 gallon, no corals or fish, I use HW reefer salt. Any suggestions?

Here you go check this out

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Oh, alright. Well awesome, thank you. So all my numbers appear to be okay than right?

Yes, all except pH if it is below 7.8 (IMO). :)

 

[Jakepen]

Yes, all except pH if it is below 7.8 (IMO). :)

Okay. By the API test kit, it is at least 7.8. Going to make myself a co2 scrubber this week as well.