Was hoping it was higher

[scotty333]

Just installed the ph monitor and was surprised to see 8.0

I run airline from outside to skimmer , Kh is 9.3 and I have turbulent surface agitation

I don’t know what more I can do other than messing with kalkwasser with afr already

 

[exnisstech]

Is this your low or high? Typically high will be at end of light cycle and lower an the am after lights out. Mine runs low of 7.8 dipping to 7.6 at times. My highest peak is 8.2 My acros don't mind.

EDIT: Just checked and yep 7.6 today. Lights just came on and it's cold here so house is closed up. I don't run a skimmer so I can't try the outside air line.

As @PapaFishRocks mentioned stability is more important than reaching a number. I thought about tossing a skimmer in so I could try the outside air line then looked at the tank and thought why bother?

 

[PapaFishRocks]

First thing to check, With any test equipment, make sure you have a solid calibration process.

Lesson I learned. Don’t chase #’s. If the fish and coral are happy, just keep it stable.

My skimmer airline is outside, got tons of surface agitation, and I still don’t quite hit 8.

 

[scotty333]

Is this your low or high? Typically high will be at end of light cycle and lower a the am after lights out. Mine runs low of 7.8 dipping to 7.6 at times. My highest peak is 8.2 My acros don't mind.

Well my photoperiod is 10-9 so it’s 5 now so I doubt it’ll climb any before 9pm but I’ll check it and first thing in the morning at 8


I forgot to mention 2 things , I have caluerpa lit on opposite light schedule so hopefully I don’t go under 8 during the night and my doors are open 24/7 for the dogs to come and go so it’s not high co2 in the room for sure

 

[scotty333]

First thing to check, With any test equipment, make sure you have a solid calibration process.

Lesson I learned. Don’t chase #’s. If the fish and coral are happy, just keep it stable.

My skimmer airline is outside, got tons of surface agitation, and I still don’t quite hit 8.

I calibrated with 7.01 and it was perfect

There’s a +/- of .2 so it could be higher or lower for that

 

[Bacon and Eggs]

Maybe decrease your surface agitation and let the skimmer do proportionally more of the aeration.

 

[scotty333]

Maybe decrease your surface agitation and let the skimmer do proportionally more of the aeration.

I don’t understand that sorry

 

[exnisstech]

Updated my post above. 7.6 here today and alls good

 

[scotty333]

Updated my post above. 7.6 here today and alls good

Trouble is , I strive for perfection and sometimes in my own worst enemy haha

 

[scotty333]

Updated my post above. 7.6 here today and alls good

What’s your kh sitting at?

 

[BryanM]

I don't see a problem here.

 

[BryanM]

Trouble is , I strive for perfection and sometimes in my own worst enemy haha

Perfection in this hobby is:

1). a myth
2). a range

IE, my ph right now goes from 7.98 to 8.11.

 

[scotty333]

I don't see a problem here.

It’s acceptable for most but not me , I’m looking to grow out my sticks and it’s evident that 8.3-.4 will do that quicker

 

[exnisstech]

I was 8.3 last test but tweaked my AFR to get it to 8.5. I'm good with anything 8-9 I don't monitor anything other than the pH meter I just test.
I get the growth thought and it's my understanding higher pH and alk can help there. Im not looking to frag anything since I have no where to sell the trimmings.
Do you have a FTS? We love reef tank pics ;)

 

[scotty333]

Sure

 

[scotty333]

Ph 7.9 its lowest and 8 highest
Fairly stable but just lower than id like
Time for soda ash

 

[scotty333]

I bet the 15ml of vodka a day is suppressing it

 

[Jungle Blue]

I don’t understand that sorry

Surface agitation (waves, ripples, splashes, etc) is where gas exchange happens.

If you can perhaps lower your highest powerhead to have a calmer water-air surface, that will lower the exchange with indoor air. Let the skimmer be the focal point for the gas exchange (like having an algae scrubber) so it'll equalize more with "outside" air.

I'm running outside air to a Surf2xx because the bubbles are on 24/7 (scheduled lights) whereas my skimmer is occasional. Thinking of putting a TopLid Evap cover to isolate more. Hope this clarifies

 

[exnisstech]

I'm running outside air to a Surf2xx because the bubbles are on 24/7 (scheduled lights) whereas my skimmer is occasional.

I did this exact thing on the tank I posted above but just a surf 2 not xx and got zero increase in pH. I thought it was strange because a year or two ago I ran a skimmer airline to the attic on my bedroom tank and got a .2 bump at night. I've read some of Randy's post on pH and I know there are many things that can come onto play. I did the bedroom tank because it was dropping at night with 2 adults and two dogs closed up in the room.

 

[BryanM]

I have a .2 swing night to day, piquing right now at 8.2, but that's increasing as I increase lights slowly after a blackout fighting dinos.

Seems swings up to .4 are normal and natural.

I am also running a surf4, so have more aeration there... not pumping in outside air tho... that would be difficult with my tanks location.