Ok, so I've read a billion topics about not chasing Ph and so forth, but what about just trying to get it up from the start. My tank is four months old now and the lights have been off while I did the BRS tank cycle recommendations. I really want to be successful on this go and I've gone all out attempting to achieve this goal. I started with Dry rock and dry sand (trying not to get aptasia and other pest), with the Microbacter dry cycle kit. The lights are just now being turned on, with acclimation mode (Radion XR30 G6 x2). Filtration is fleece roller, Octo 150int skimmer, refugium with Chato just starting and the Apex Gro light. I'm running Ozone, w/ Poseidon 200 and the Avast Mutiny ozone reactor. I am set up for kalkwasser, but wasn't planning to run that until my tank gets corals and I start using up alk a little, which will then be using the Avast kalk reactor and DOS doser. I have been keeping up with 10% weekly water changes (20% instant by hand after cycle was completed), via Apex DOS. On the skimmer, I use a Co2 scrubber and on the ozone I use a Co2 scrubber, along with a desiccant air dryer. Aqua 25w UV at 500gph on left return and right return is matching at 500 gph with no UV.
My tanks Ph stays around 7.7 and only on a few occasions has it went to 8.0, using the Apex probe. I just tested Ph with my Red Sea test kit and got a 7.6 (apex reading 7.79)... I have everything in an enclosed fish room, along with the tank (built into the wall). I also have an automatic vent to keep the air moving, for heat and humidity, along with central air plumbed into the room. I mean.... what else can I do? I live in the country... open floors and kids keep the dang doors flinging, so I constantly have air flowing through here. We live in N. Louisiana. Do I start dosing kalk without any coral in the tank? I don't want to raise my Alk but maybe a point from 9.0 to 10.0 dkh. I have no idea why the Trident is reading 5.36 dkh, but I have a meeting scheduled with them on Wednesday. I'm at a loss. I just added 4 clowns, 3 pajama cardinals and a cleaner shrimp three days ago.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
120g display corner tank
Alk: 9.0 dkh (apex Trident reads 5.36, even after calibration)
Ca: 370
Mg: 1262
No3: 5.4
Po4: 0.0
No2: 0.0
Nh3/Mh4: 0.0

My tanks Ph stays around 7.7 and only on a few occasions has it went to 8.0, using the Apex probe. I just tested Ph with my Red Sea test kit and got a 7.6 (apex reading 7.79)... I have everything in an enclosed fish room, along with the tank (built into the wall). I also have an automatic vent to keep the air moving, for heat and humidity, along with central air plumbed into the room. I mean.... what else can I do? I live in the country... open floors and kids keep the dang doors flinging, so I constantly have air flowing through here. We live in N. Louisiana. Do I start dosing kalk without any coral in the tank? I don't want to raise my Alk but maybe a point from 9.0 to 10.0 dkh. I have no idea why the Trident is reading 5.36 dkh, but I have a meeting scheduled with them on Wednesday. I'm at a loss. I just added 4 clowns, 3 pajama cardinals and a cleaner shrimp three days ago.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
120g display corner tank
Alk: 9.0 dkh (apex Trident reads 5.36, even after calibration)
Ca: 370
Mg: 1262
No3: 5.4
Po4: 0.0
No2: 0.0
Nh3/Mh4: 0.0
