Low pH gremlins!

[Acros]

I have been dealing with very low pH ever since I switched from ESV Bionic 2 part to Tropic Marine Original balling 3 part. Before the switch, my ph used to be between 8.20 high - 7.70 low. However, once I switched to TM Original balling, my pH dropped to a range of 7.8 high to 7.5 low.

I replaced the Neptune pH probe with a pinpoint double junction probe to rule out a faulty probe and started dosing 1300ml of saturated kalk overnight (14 hours). The results have been disappointing. My nighttime low still hits 7.53, and the high never goes above 7.83 (with windows opened for about an hour daily).

I did an aeration test, taking 16oz of water and leaving it on my patio with a bubbler running for 1 hour. I measured the salinity of the cup of water, temp, and pH. Temp: 77.9, salinity: 1.026, and pH: 8.09.

Here are some tank specs:
Real water volume: 18 g
Alkalinity: 8.8 dkh
Salinity: 1.026
Age: 2 years
Daily alk consumption: ~2.4 dkh
Amount of alk dosed: 1300 ml (14 hours, starts dosing during the last hour of light ramp down and the first hour of lights ramping up)
Amount of TM Original balling dose: 12ml
Other dosing: 1ml ESV Nitrate per day

Note: All corals were/are happy regardless of the pH, and PE is also great. I want to know if it is the nature of the balling additive driving down pH or a faulty pH probe.

 

[14 foot reef]

CO2 in your house is most likely your cause not your dosing

 

[Acros]

CO2 in your house is most likely your cause not your dosing

CO2 is definitely high, I haven't measured it, but it is safe to assume that it is high.

I am not sure why I did not have the same issue with ESV 2 part.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, the ESV is a higher pH product than the TM Balling product.

 

[Acros]

FWIW, the ESV is a higher pH product than the TM Balling product.

I am thinking of switching out the Part B of TM with your baked baking soda recipe. I understand that I will have to dose half the amount, as the DIY is a higher concentration mix.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am thinking of switching out the Part B of TM with your baked baking soda recipe. I understand that I will have to dose half the amount, as the DIY is a higher concentration mix.

That's about correct, yes.

 

[Acros]

That's about correct, yes.

Is it ok to add TM K- elements to baked baking soda?

 

[Uncle99]

I’ve never got any useful information from any PH test or probe.
Just a lot of numbers which I have no idea who’s right at any time.
Once I forgot about PH, things went so well.
PH is what it is.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is it ok to add TM K- elements to baked baking soda?

I would not add K+ to the alk part of either system. I'd add it to the calcium portion.

 

[Acros]

I’ve never got any useful information from any PH test or probe.
Just a lot of numbers which I have no idea who’s right at any time.
Once I forgot about PH, things went so well.
PH is what it is.

Just seeing that low number bothers me. Everything is looking good tho.

I would not add K+ to the alk part of either system. I'd add it to the calcium portion.

That is right. I messed up while typing. I will add the A elements to the alk part.

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

You could even consider using sodium hydroxide

 

[Acros]

You could even consider using sodium hydroxide

I am a little worried about precipitation. That will be the next step if baked baking soda (sodium carbonate) does not help.

 

[Uncle99]

Just seeing that low number bothers me. Everything is looking good tho.

That is right. I messed up while typing. I will add the A elements to the alk part.

I hear you….bothered me for months….but everthing look great so I just stopped measuring….have great water movement, a skimmer with outside air draw, and a fuge, so that’s the best I can do.

I’m really not sure what the actual difference is between 7.8 and 8.4 for corals, supposed to enhance growth.

If so, can’t really see it in my systems.

API say mine is 8.0…..so be it…..8.0 will be the number.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I’ve never got any useful information from any PH test or probe.
Just a lot of numbers which I have no idea who’s right at any time.
Once I forgot about PH, things went so well.
PH is what it is.

I like it! old school rules, rule!!!!