Question concerning lower Ph of cycling tank

[Angryminer_07]

Newbie here ( I know I have a ton to learn),

I'm currently cycling my new tank using the reef mature kits from red sea. I'm currently on day 9 and following the instructions as directed. I'm using a calibrated new apex system to follow pH, Salinity, and Temp. My ammonia, nitritres, etc have been on par with whats expected in the instructions.

My pH started the process around 7.7-7.8. Slowly it started to drop over the first 5 days all the way down to 7.4 as the low. Im now dosing KH as instructed and things have increased to 7.6ish but are staying consistently below 7.8. I've been checking my dKh daily (pre and post dosing). I'll start out around 2.6 meq and after dosing as instructed, things will be closer to 3meq.

What I am hoping to learn is a pH drop something to expect with cycling a tank? Should I consider chasing the pH more with dosing over whats instructed (or will it improve over time)?

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

2.6 meq/l is a bit low for alkalinity, although plenty of tanks are run with alkalinity in this range. Increasing alkalinity and keeping it elevated may help pH.

How are you measuring pH? Are you using a drop-style test kit or a pH meter?

 

[Angryminer_07]

I’m using my apex ph probe (calibrated it again and its measuring the same). Measuring kh with drop kit.