Managing pH. How do you do it?

[ChintzySnail]

Two weeks ago. My pH was 7.8. So I researched how to raise it and I started aerating my water by moving my jet closer to the surface among other things.

This past weekend, when I turned off my machinery to introduce some pods, my macroalgae and nuisance algae were very... bubbly, something I've seen as good in freshwater.

Checked parameters today (doing a water change to clean out some nuisance algae i scraped off), and everything was normal except ammonia at <.25, and pH at dark purple. So I know my pH has gone from 7.8 to 8.4+. Now I have to bring it down slightly.

Is this just a normal process of saltwater, constantly balancing parameters?

I have been dosing so e chaetogrow and do have macroalgae in my display tank currently. Picture below.

 

[Hemmbone20]

Your PH will swing daily as the lights turn on and off. Totally normal.
Plus with that type of test kit you have I doubt you’re getting 100% accurate readings. It’s very hard to differentiate on color match test kits.
I’d recommend just making sure you have good aeration in the tank and when the weather is nice open the windows up to your house.
Anything more complicated than that you’d probably need to buy a PH monitor, but that’s a whole other topic.

 

[TX_REEF]

yes, it is a constant and never-ending balancing act. Auto-dosing is one way to fight this battle. I dose kalkwasser to maintain alk, which in turn also holds my ph steady at around 8.2-8.3 For fine tuning alkalinity, I use fritz alk buffer: https://amzn.to/41Futto

 

[skey44]

I don’t monitor it. I would like to in the future though. Looking at apex for continuous monitoring and possible control.
Those api test kits are trash for fine tuning pH. Calibrated ph probe is really only practical way IMO.
If your tank is looking fine to you I wouldn’t worry about 7.8 vs 8.4 with that test kit.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I used to run a refugium with the light running opposite of the tank lights. Would keep my PH pretty stable. The tank lights would raise it during the day, and the fuge light would keep it up during the night.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Two biggest options:

1. Protein skimmer with air coming from outside for maximum gain.
2. Refugium

I use a refugium. I'm now stable at 7.9 during night and peak between 8.05 to 8.16 during day hours.

 

[exnisstech]

I put a monitor on my acro tank out of curiosity and my swings are 7.6 - 7.9 in the winter. My high with the house open is 8.1. Other than looking at the monitor once in a while I do nothing. I see no reason to worry about it since my coral have no complaints. Maybe I would get faster growth if it were higher but I don't feel the need since I'm not fragging.

 

[BryanM]

As stated, cycles throughout the day, and I do not try to keep it at say 8.2, I just let it do its thing.

 

[Dburr1014]

Now I have to bring it down slightly.

I would not mess with it. If you're between 7.8 and 8.5, it's fine, don't chase the number.

 

[Hemmbone20]

I don’t monitor it. I would like to in the future though. Looking at apex for continuous monitoring and possible control.
Those api test kits are trash for fine tuning pH. Calibrated ph probe is really only practical way IMO.
If your tank is looking fine to you I wouldn’t worry about 7.8 vs 8.4 with that test kit.

I’m torn between the apex and the hydros product line.
I’m leaning towards setting up a hydros X3 for PH monitoring and a hydros Sole to have a continuous Kalk supply.

 

[Biff0rz]

Things I do/use to manage alk/ph-
- Dose kalkwasser (+pH) (9L/day)
- Dose soda ash (++pH) (130ml/day)
- Dose from a calcium reactor (-pH) (10ml/min)
- Skimmer (+pH)
- Scrubber (++pH)
- Outside airline to skimmer (have since removed) (+pH)

I use a lot of things that add pH and sort of use the calcium reactor to keep it in check, as I sometimes reach 8.6.

Most of all of this is to balance Alk tho, as that's more important.

 

[skey44]

I have heard good things about the Coralvue hydros. Just don’t understand the product line very well and seems a little more hands on than I’m hoping for.
I’m wanting simple control and the Neptune line seems to offer that. Just waiting on a sale.

 

[bubbgee]

Things I do/use to manage alk/ph-
- Dose kalkwasser (+pH) (9L/day)
- Dose soda ash (++pH) (130ml/day)
- Dose from a calcium reactor (-pH) (10ml/min)
- Skimmer (+pH)
- Scrubber (++pH)
- Outside airline to skimmer (have since removed) (+pH)

I use a lot of things that add pH and sort of use the calcium reactor to keep it in check, as I sometimes reach 8.6.

Most of all of this is to balance Alk tho, as that's more important.

Soda ash is more potent than kalk for pH? I thought it was lower pH for alk for all day dosing.
I use Randy's sodium hydroxide recipe because it's the best bang for dosing when it comes to pH (although much more PPE needed to prepare).

 

[bubbgee]

I have heard good things about the Coralvue hydros. Just don’t understand the product line very well and seems a little more hands on than I’m hoping for.
I’m wanting simple control and the Neptune line seems to offer that. Just waiting on a sale.

kamoer x1 pro t is what i use to dose kalk. It's on clearance at the coralvue outlet store. it's wifi/bluetooth enabled.

 

[Biff0rz]

Soda ash is more potent than kalk for pH? I thought it was lower pH for alk for all day dosing.
I use Randy's sodium hydroxide recipe because it's the best bang for dosing when it comes to pH (although much more PPE needed to prepare).

I find it to be. I use the brs soda ash 1g mix and dose 130ml/day. It tends to raise ph quickly and alk too. Kalk I dose 9L / day and I refill it weekly (1 cup into a stirrer). I suppose I could dose more soda ash but that can precipitate easily. I find that my system likes kalk more than anything, it's just not super potent for my consumption needs.

 

[skey44]

I’m torn between the apex and the hydros product line.
I’m leaning towards setting up a hydros X3 for PH monitoring and a hydros Sole to have a continuous Kalk supply.

Checked out the x3 and sole. Looks like a promising combo. Maybe I need to do more research! Haven’t bought anything yet. Frankly things are good without a controller so far.
I really want that piece of mind for when I’m away and just want to make sure the tank isn’t crashing and burning!

 

[skey44]

Right now ( just started this week). I have a very low concentration of kalk in my ato (1tsp in 8g) primarily getting kH from AFR ( I will continue to use this at least until I run out of it). Just experimenting with some kalk. Pretty sure I’ve seen an increase in growth just in the one week of supplementation. Getting a controller is primarily for peace of mind when I’m away from the tank, but controlling pH is another benefit I look forward to.

 

[Biff0rz]

Right now ( just started this week). I have a very low concentration of kalk in my ato (1tsp in 8g) primarily getting kH from AFR ( I will continue to use this at least until I run out of it). Just experimenting with some kalk. Pretty sure I’ve seen an increase in growth just in the one week of supplementation. Getting a controller is primarily for peace of mind when I’m away from the tank, but controlling pH is another benefit I look forward to.

You should not dose kalk from your ato

 

[Hemmbone20]

You should not dose kalk from your ato

In low doses I disagree.

 

[skey44]

When I first started in the hobby I used to successfully bolus dose kalk slurry to my tank…. I think a low concentration of kalk in my ato is gonna be fine. This is a very common/accepted practice. There are benefits and drawbacks like everything else.