Using ph up for hydroponics in reef tank?

[DenverSaltyFarm]

Just curious if anyone has used this? I have a calcium reactor that I love, but I’m battling low ph. I’ve tried almost every remedy flow and even a kalk reactor with no success. The kalk reactor was a pain in the butt and never constant. I was wondering if anyone has tried hooking up ph-up to an apex controller for direct control of ph exactly where people want it?

 

[Mjrenz]

I think ph up is made for freshwater tanks that aren't planted if I'm not mistaken, I have no idea if it would be safe for a reef tank. What are all of your parameters? If your alkalinity is low or you don't have proper gas exchange that could be a reason for low ph

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

I think ph up is made for freshwater tanks that aren't planted if I'm not mistaken, I have no idea if it would be safe for a reef tank. What are all of your parameters? If your alkalinity is low or you don't have proper gas exchange that could be a reason for low ph

I keep alk about 7.8 and calcium 430. I find that if I run a higher alk above 8.5 I’ll start to burn the corals because the tank is pretty clean. To combat I dose acropower with great results in keeping color. The calcium reactor keeps the tank at 8.0ph max in the day and 7.7 at night (very normal for anyone running a calcium reactor) there have been proven studies that keeping ph at 8.3 will increase growth. I don’t think there can be anymore gas exchange than I have. I even tried a fresh air Line from outside to my protein skimmer. With everything in the reef community becoming more automated just curious why no one is automating ph? Sure there are remedies that will get you to chase the number, but why not just keep the tank at the number you want with no fuss?

 

[Mjrenz]

Now that you explained it further I have more questions than answers, I'm going to follow along at this point and see what others have to say about it

 

[cmcoker]

A quick search looks like pH up is potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate. I'm not a chemist but I feel like those will raise your alkalinity. Randy Holmes-Farley always says there is no pH supplement that will not raise alkalinity as well, I figure that applies for hydroponic solutions as well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There is no chemical that can raise pH that is not itself an alkalinity supplement. It is chemically impossible.

If you want both alkalinity and a pH boost, use sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. :)