Ph issues

[jimbosreef]

Hello all,
for a bit now ive been monitoring my ph and ive noticed it never gets above 8. so to trouble shoot this i opened windows in the room of the tank and within the 24hr period the ph reached above 8. so my next step is to run either a Co2 scrubber or start dosing kalk. my question to you all is. what is the more reliable and more consistent change to make to help keep this ph around 8 or above?

this is on a waterbox 7225, running skimmer, 2 mp40s and a gyre. i have alot of surface agitation. also a sps dominant system. i do dose 2 part as well



TIA

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

CO2 scrubber will usually have a larger effect, although both are fighting against tank top aeration. Kalk is only useful if you have substantial daily alk demand.

CO2 scrubber media will be more expensive.

Air line from skimmer inlet to outside is the cheapest option, if you can wrangle that.

 

[56longroof]

Run a air line outside for the skimmer.

 

[jimbosreef]

airline outside i dont believe will be a possibility. that was an option i had already thought of

 

[exnisstech]

My SPS tank ran for over 2.5 years with a daily pH swing of 7.6 - 7.9. Out of curiosity I added a skimmer and ran an outside airline to the intake and now my pH is 8.0 - 8.3 daily. I'm getting faster growth from my acros but other than that no noticeable difference. If your looking for faster growth then it's worth it IMO. If your not interested in faster growth I'm not sure there any other benefits to make chasing pH worth the effort.

 

[Rocks reef]

I agree with not chasing pH.
However, if you go with a CO2 scrubber. If you get media from other than a “reef” store, it’s pretty reasonable.
For example, I get a 38 pound bucket from Med Vet international for $98. It will last me probably a year. If you got that much from a reef store you’d be paying about $500-600

 

[jimbosreef]

I agree with not chasing pH.
However, if you go with a CO2 scrubber. If you get media from other than a “reef” store, it’s pretty reasonable.
For example, I get a 38 pound bucket from Med Vet international for $98. It will last me probably a year. If you got that much from a reef store you’d be paying about $500-600

thankyou for that info

 

[jimbosreef]

what media are you using?

 

[Reefering1]

Even a airline to a attic or crawlspace will get you fresh outside air, the tube doesn't have to go all the way to a exterior wall..

 

[Addicted2Acro]

Look at 2 part from Not A Feesh. They make it differently and it is meant to increase PH. It does a great job. My PH never used to get much above 8. I added a CO2 scrubber and Not a Feesh 2 part and now I find myself having to disconnect my scrubber sometimes as PH gets above 8.5-8.6.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

BRS CO2 scrubber + Not a Feesh 2 part = problem solved. 100%. You do not need to run line outside either. What I am doing when I get back from Costa Rica is I bought a 3 way solenoid that will turn scrubber on and off. I can program into apex to turn scrubber on when PH gets below 8.3 and off when above 8.4.

 

[jimbosreef]

BRS CO2 scrubber + Not a Feesh 2 part = problem solved. 100%. You do not need to run line outside either. What I am doing when I get back from Costa Rica is I bought a 3 way solenoid that will turn scrubber on and off. I can program into apex to turn scrubber on when PH gets below 8.3 and off when above 8.4.

Great info, I’ll look into it. Thankyou

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Hello all,
for a bit now ive been monitoring my ph and ive noticed it never gets above 8. so to trouble shoot this i opened windows in the room of the tank and within the 24hr period the ph reached above 8. so my next step is to run either a Co2 scrubber or start dosing kalk. my question to you all is. what is the more reliable and more consistent change to make to help keep this ph around 8 or above?

this is on a waterbox 7225, running skimmer, 2 mp40s and a gyre. i have alot of surface agitation. also a sps dominant system. i do dose 2 part as well



TIA

keeping the window open will do it. I do that when i can and i also have a co2 scrubber. Kalk will only give very minimal results.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

jorvet brand scrubbing media is really good. Get the large 40 lb 5g container on amazon.

 

[jimbosreef]

keeping the window open will do it. I do that when i can and i also have a co2 scrubber. Kalk will only give very minimal results.

opening the window has helped for sure, but not a realistic solution during the summer months.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

+ Not a Feesh 2 part =

FWIW, we have diy two part recipes using hydroxide as well. They predate the commercial versions., though I am glad someone now makes it for folks who do not want to diy. :)

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

opening the window has helped for sure, but not a realistic solution during the summer months.

yea for sure. I only can make that happen on certain days/nights. You can go the co2 scrubber recirculating option which makes media last much longer and really will give you a boost

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Great info, I’ll look into it. Thankyou

what part of costa rica are you in? I spent many months traveling all over that country.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

what part of costa rica are you in? I spent many months traveling all over that country.

We are 3 weeks in Uvita. I run a wealth management firm and can do meetings remotely so it is a working vacation. We got a great house in the mountains overlooking the ocean. Miss my reef tank though. I have a the owners of our LFS checking on it every day so that makes me feel a little better.

 

[Addicted2Acro]

FWIW, we have diy two part recipes using hydroxide as well. They predate the commercial versions., though I am glad someone now makes it for folks who do not want to diy. :)

For sure. Its not cheap, but its very effective.