Low PH help

[Vanezia]

My ph is always around 7.8 should I be trying to raise it? If so, what can I dose it with that don't raise my alkalinity as well

Alkalinity - 10.5
Calcium - 480
Magnesium - 1170

 

[Doctorgori]

BRS has a few vids on the subject....bottom line its all ambient CO2 control ... basically start with atmosphere control over liquid-water-chemical solutions....
As for 7.8 ...I’m calling that “doable” but IMO at the bottom end of the range .... In other words, 7.8 is right there on the edge .. ,,,

 

[Vanezia]

BRS has a few vids on the subject....bottom line its all ambient CO2 control ... basically start with atmosphere control over liquid-water-chemical solutions....
As for 7.8 ...I’m calling that “doable” but IMO at the bottom end of the range .... In other words, 7.8 is right there on the edge .. ,,,

I'm not running a skimmer, is there any solutions that will work that don't involve a CO2 scrubber?

 

[homer1475]

Bout the only thing you could do short of running and airline outside to a skimmer, or running a CO2 scrubber, is opening a window near the tank.

PH in a reef tank is all about removing excess CO2 from the air entering the tank. An airline from the outside to an air pump in the sump would help, but will also create a ton of salt creep.

 

[Vanezia]

Can you run a CO2 scrubber without a skimmer?

 

[homer1475]

I suppose you could, just not sure how you would pull and/or push the air through the media.

 

[W1ngz]

Can you run a CO2 scrubber without a skimmer?

I don't think so, the whole idea is based on aggressively mixing low CO2 air and water which is exactly what a skimmer is designed to do.

Dosing additives to manipulate pH is the worst option.

 

[Vanezia]

Would Increased surface agitation help much?

 

[homer1475]

Certainly can't hurt.

 

[Vanezia]

Is there any other solutions I can use to control CO2?

 

[W1ngz]

Is there any other solutions I can use to control CO2?

If you can't or don't want a skimmer, I doubt you'd get a refugium going, but that's another way. Managing the air quality in the home or the room such as running an exhaust fan or open windows. CO2 in the water is always looking to be at equilibrium with the room it's in, so it's more about managing the air in the home than the water in your tank.

 

[Vanezia]

I could setup a refugium in a hob filter. Would that help much?

 

[Guy714]

I think you can also dose soda ash to raise your PH.

 

[PacoPetty]

Would Increased surface agitation help much?

I could not get mine to stay above 7.8 so I added an air stone and turned a power head up to the surface to get more surface agitation and now I constantly have a pH of 8.2. I tried only using the powerhead but it wasn’t until I added the air stone that I was able to attain a pH of 8.2.

 

[PacoPetty]

I also added Chaeto to my fuge and helped tremendously. I don’t like dosing to raise pH.

 

[Rmckoy]

There are so many ways to manipulate ph .
but it’s not advisable to chase ph Numbers .
there is a reason why it’s where it is ,dosing anything will only off set everything else .

480 for cal seams high ... I maintain mine closer to 410 ( 380-450 ) is typical reef
420 is closer to natural surface sea water

 

[JoshO]

I ran my QT without the airstone on for a few days and watched the PH drop from 8.3 to 8.0...ran it again for 24 hours and it was on the way back up.
If you can have windows open in the room that has the tank and run a wooden airstone in the sump then it should help, a normal airstone will also help

 

[Vanezia]

I'm limited on space. I've setup a 20g tank, filtration is from a canister filter. I don't have the space to add a sump. I may end up buying a skimmer but was just curious about my options until I do.

Will running an airstone in my tank have any adverse effects on fish or corals?

 

[Haim]

Increase the intensity of light.

 

[JoshO]

I'm limited on space. I've setup a 20g tank, filtration is from a canister filter. I don't have the space to add a sump. I may end up buying a skimmer but was just curious about my options until I do.

Will running an airstone in my tank have any adverse effects on fish or corals?

I don't think it will, if anything it'll be good as it'll be helping to oxygenate the water.