Super Low PH Problem

[egwich]

Hey Everyone,

Have had my tank up and running for about a year. I had an Aptasia outbreak so I bought a few peppermint shrimp. I did a drip acclimation, but by the next morning they were all dead. I tested my nitrates and ammonia prior, and my nitrates were at like 5-10 ppm (before I did a 15% water change) and ammonia was zero, but I did not test PH or Nitrites. Nitrites were zero but my PH level was a freakin 7.0!

It's a 55 gallon. Livestock is two clowns, royal gramma, diamond watchman goby, lyretail anthias, a few snails, and a big fire-shrimp. I would say I have roughly 40-50 lbs of Live Rock in there and a sand bed. I have a 406 Fluval (which I clean out once a week) and a protein skimmer rated for a larger tank (I think 100 gallons).

I picked up some eight.four (which my fish store recommended) which seems to work for a little but then the next day I'm super low again (was at 7.4 today). What the heck could be going wrong? I have an airstone in there and a small oxygen pump - am I pumping too much oxygen in there? I'm in Chicago so opening a window isn't really an option in the winter.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ccombs]

Hey Everyone,

Have had my tank up and running for about a year. I had an Aptasia outbreak so I bought a few peppermint shrimp. I did a drip acclimation, but by the next morning they were all dead. I tested my nitrates and ammonia prior, and my nitrates were at like 5-10 ppm (before I did a 15% water change) and ammonia was zero, but I did not test PH or Nitrites. Nitrites were zero but my PH level was a freakin 7.0!

It's a 55 gallon. Livestock is two clowns, royal gramma, diamond watchman goby, lyretail anthias, a few snails, and a big fire-shrimp. I would say I have roughly 40-50 lbs of Live Rock in there and a sand bed. I have a 406 Fluval (which I clean out once a week) and a protein skimmer rated for a larger tank (I think 100 gallons).

I picked up some eight.four (which my fish store recommended) which seems to work for a little but then the next day I'm super low again (was at 7.4 today). What the heck could be going wrong? I have an airstone in there and a small oxygen pump - am I pumping too much oxygen in there? I'm in Chicago so opening a window isn't really an option in the winter.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I don't have advice but I am following along, I also have a low pH problem. I brought in outside air through my skimmer, but it hasn't helped too much. However, for some people it has raised by .2 or .3. I think you will probably need to make several small adjustments that collectively get you to a proper range.

 

[andyg1960]

What method are you using to test pH?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Don't use eight four, or whatever it's called, unless you are also monitoring alkalinity. The stuff will boost alkalinity and then you'll be wondering why everything is burning out.

You can't have a pH of 7.0 unless someone was adding acids to your tank. You have a pH testing problem.

 

[egwich]

Don't use eight four, or whatever it's called, unless you are also monitoring alkalinity. The stuff will boost alkalinity and then you'll be wondering why everything is burning out.

You can't have a pH of 7.0 unless someone was adding acids to your tank. You have a pH testing problem.

I'm using the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. I brought it to a shop around here and they have strips and it read the same thing on both.

 

[Mical]

Are you using RODI water? I agree w/Redfish, something is very "OFF" about your 7.0 ph

 

[egwich]

Are you using RODI water? I agree w/Redfish, something is very "OFF" about your 7.0 ph

Oh yeah. No non RODI water has ever been in my tank.

 

[egwich]

Don't use eight four, or whatever it's called, unless you are also monitoring alkalinity. The stuff will boost alkalinity and then you'll be wondering why everything is burning out.

You can't have a pH of 7.0 unless someone was adding acids to your tank. You have a pH testing problem.

Any suggestions what I should be using to test PH?

 

[Dkeller_nc]

A pH meter (properly calibrated). The problem with testing pH in seawater with drop tests is that some assumptions have to be made about the composition of the seawater - one of the bigger ones is what the alkalinity is.

Since what you've described is a fish-only tank with some inverts, it actually would be possible to have a fairly low pH, since with fish-only, you wouldn't normally be testing and supplementing calcium and alkalinity. In such a tank, the alkalinity will gradually fall over time, and with it, the pH. You could, if you choose, purchase a Salifert alkalinity test kit, then make corrections with baking soda solution if necessary. BRS also has relatively low cost pH pens and calibration solutions if you want to keep measuring pH.

While it's not impossible that a really low pH killed your peppermint shrimp, a more likely scenario is a significant specific gravity difference between the dealer's tank and your own. If it's more than about 0.03 units off, you'd need to take 24 hours or more to acclimate the shrimp - inverts other than perhaps snails don't tolerate fast specific gravity changes.

 

[Mjrenz]

A pH meter (properly calibrated). The problem with testing pH in seawater with drop tests is that some assumptions have to be made about the composition of the seawater - one of the bigger ones is what the alkalinity is.

Since what you've described is a fish-only tank with some inverts, it actually would be possible to have a fairly low pH, since with fish-only, you wouldn't normally be testing and supplementing calcium and alkalinity. In such a tank, the alkalinity will gradually fall over time, and with it, the pH. You could, if you choose, purchase a Salifert alkalinity test kit, then make corrections with baking soda solution if necessary. BRS also has relatively low cost pH pens and calibration solutions if you want to keep measuring pH.

While it's not impossible that a really low pH killed your peppermint shrimp, a more likely scenario is a significant specific gravity difference between the dealer's tank and your own. If it's more than about 0.03 units off, you'd need to take 24 hours or more to acclimate the shrimp - inverts other than perhaps snails don't tolerate fast specific gravity changes.

+1...The only thing that I can think to add is don't try to adjust anything too quickly in the tank if you find your alkalinity is low (which it probably is), you'll most likely kill everything in your tank

 

[clipperking]

I had the same thing happen in my 225 used pH buffer for about 30 days cleaned out skimmer but it wasn't until I added an air Stone did it straighten up apparently the carbon dioxide was high so o moved my circulation pump to move more water and also make bubbles now pH test good everyday.

 

[egwich]

A pH meter (properly calibrated). The problem with testing pH in seawater with drop tests is that some assumptions have to be made about the composition of the seawater - one of the bigger ones is what the alkalinity is.

Since what you've described is a fish-only tank with some inverts, it actually would be possible to have a fairly low pH, since with fish-only, you wouldn't normally be testing and supplementing calcium and alkalinity. In such a tank, the alkalinity will gradually fall over time, and with it, the pH. You could, if you choose, purchase a Salifert alkalinity test kit, then make corrections with baking soda solution if necessary. BRS also has relatively low cost pH pens and calibration solutions if you want to keep measuring pH.

While it's not impossible that a really low pH killed your peppermint shrimp, a more likely scenario is a significant specific gravity difference between the dealer's tank and your own. If it's more than about 0.03 units off, you'd need to take 24 hours or more to acclimate the shrimp - inverts other than perhaps snails don't tolerate fast specific gravity changes.

You're right, I haven't kept much of an eye on the PH due to not having any corals and it being a fish only system. IS PH something I need to worry about then? Everyone seems healthy. I just feel like I'm getting conflicting advice. Some people (fish shop) say use this chemical or reef builder, or whatever else. Then online it seems like it's a BIG no no to use that stuff.

 

[scriptmonkey]

I was having PH low problems until I started boosting Alkalinity with Red Sea Foundation part B. Once I raised my Alk from 4.6 to 8.5-9.0dkh seemed my PH issues went away. I am stable in the 8.0-8.2 range.

 

[Mjrenz]

You're right, I haven't kept much of an eye on the PH due to not having any corals and it being a fish only system. IS PH something I need to worry about then? Everyone seems healthy. I just feel like I'm getting conflicting advice. Some people (fish shop) say use this chemical or reef builder, or whatever else. Then online it seems like it's a BIG no no to use that stuff.

The ph will regulate itself for the most part if you keep your alkalinity in check. Low ph is usually a symptom of low alkalinity or co2 build up. Since you said you're aerating I don't suspect it's co2. You really shouldn't add chemicals to chase ph, you will end up with large swings in ph because the water is not properly buffered (alkalinity). To check alkalinity a cheap api test kit would probably work for your situation, I like the salifert kit, it's much more accurate but also more expensive