Saltwater plants to adjust pH question

[steg7714]

So I have a young reef tank 210 gal. All my parameters are good and stable, but my pH is consistently a bit low at 7.8-8.0. My Alk is 11 and stable. Was thinking of adding a saltwater plants or two to reduce CO2 in water as I already have good surface agitation and flow. Any thoughts on if this would help and suggestions on what plants to add? I would like to add then to my DT and not my sump as I have no light in the sump. All suggestions appreciated. TIA!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Growing macroalgae (or even microalgae) will help add O2 and also raise pH. I grow a lot of macroalgae in my refugia.

Bear in mind that herbivores may eat them in your display. Mine do.

 

[steg7714]

Growing macroalgae (or even microalgae) will help add O2 and also raise pH. I grow a lot of macroalgae in my refugia.

Bear in mind that herbivores may eat them in your display. Mine do.

Thanks. Was thinking of either Red Pom Pom Garlic aria or Red Ogo. Any thoughts on these two? I have a yellow tang, a foxface, and a kole tang that may munch on them.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yep, those will be a great treat for them. My yellow tang and foxface would eat them in a couple of days.

I grow them and others (such as ulva, which grows super fast) in a refugium and bring them up as foods.

 

[steg7714]

Yep, those will be a great treat for them. My yellow tang and foxface would eat them in a couple of days.

I grow them and others (such as ulva, which grows super fast) in a refugium and bring them up as foods.

So with 1 kole tang, 1 foxface,and 1 yellow tang, (all about 4 in long) how long will it take them to totally devour 1 plant?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So with 1 kole tang, 1 foxface,and 1 yellow tang, (all about 4 in long) how long will it take them to totally devour 1 plant?

A day? Two? Fast.

You’d need to grow it in a refugium.

 

[steg7714]

Then this plan won't work. The goal is to increase pH with a sustainable plant,not change the current diet of my fish. While I am sure they would love it, it doesn't address the pH issue that started this thread. Thanks anyway.

 

[steg7714]

Then this plan is a total bust. The goal was never to feed the fish something new or start a refugium. The goal was to consistently raise pH. Any ideas on a plant that my tags WONT eat that might work for this in the DT?

 

[bluemon]

Then this plan is a total bust. The goal was never to feed the fish something new or start a refugium. The goal was to consistently raise pH. Any ideas on a plant that my tags WONT eat that might work for this in the DT?

Yea nothing eats Chaeto.

Also I would really just add lights to the sump and make a refugium.

A refugium is just too beneficial

 

[bluemon]

I would also dive into why your pH is so low.

While I don’t recommend chasing pH, it is still nice to know.

Do you have a skimmer? Did you think about having the intake out to a window?

How are you dosing alk? I would say 11 is a bit too high. I wouldn’t go beyond 10 even in a high alk set up. Are you dosing with a calcium reactor?

 

[steg7714]

So as I put in my original post, porting fresh air in is not an option given the placement of the tank in the house. I do have a skimmer. It runs 24/7. I realize the alk is a bit high at 11. I dosed to raise pH and Alk, but only the Alk went up. Hence the situation in am now in. The reason I don't want to add a light to the sp is because I am pushing the limits of that electrical circuit with what I have plugged in already. I suspect the reason the pH is low is due to poor gas exchange even with adequate surface agitation. Hence the brainstorming of how to naturally promote more gas exchange instead of running straight to the CO2 scrubber, which adds more load to my electrical circuit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Then this plan won't work. The goal is to increase pH with a sustainable plant,not change the current diet of my fish. While I am sure they would love it, it doesn't address the pH issue that started this thread. Thanks anyway.

I understand. There are many ways to raise pH, but I think you understand them all. Fresher air to the room is often the best, if not easiest option.