pH problem

[Kilo]

All,
Having problems with pH. It around 6.8 and is bad.
KH, calcium and magnesium are on proper level.
Read about aeration/ carbon dioxide
I just added rowaphos on Friday. Read that could cause a little drop but will swing back.

Pls advice what to do? Read about adding baking soda, can?

 

[Rob Lion]

how did you test for pH? ...... 6.8 is more acidic than plain water.....
do you have crazy amounts of free organics in your tank?
anything died in your tank? any ammonia ?
Nitrate levels?
is your skimmer working correctly?
can you connect your skimmer air intake to get air from outside your house rather than inside (thus less CO2)?
if not, can you get more fresh air into your room?
How long have you been running this tank?
are you carbon dosing?

 

[Kilo]

how did you test for pH? ...... 6.8 is more acidic than plain water.....
do you have crazy amounts of free organics in your tank?
anything died in your tank? any ammonia ?
Nitrate levels?
is your skimmer working correctly?
can you connect your skimmer air intake to get air from outside your house rather than inside (thus less CO2)?
if not, can you get more fresh air into your room?
How long have you been running this tank?
are you carbon dosing?

Rob,
I am using a digital pH pen. Just bought it. Plan on buying the calibration solution 7 today.
1 fish died but removed it before it decomposed. Ammonia is zero and nitrate is 15ppm. Skimmer is working fine. Windows are always open and i am not carbon dosing

 

[Rob Lion]

my first guess would be to check the pen..... try it on cold tap water, should be about 7.0
then , make the water a little acidic, add some lemon juice for instance and check again, should be lower that 7.

 

[Kilo]

Rob,
Thanks. Will check the pen first before doing anything

 

[Rob Lion]

assuming that your pen is working correctly..... go look at...
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium.7/
from @Randy Holmes-Farley

it explains all, but more importantly read the sections on Low pH and aerate testing etc. That should help find out whats going on and why.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Everything rob said.
A ph test is usually cheap and easy to find locally.

 

[Reef 450]