What’s your ph range

[LiquidSpace]

7.8 to 8.0 on an aquarium that has had no lights for 7 months. Lights come soon, I hope it increases when I get it on.

If that doesn’t work I need to figure out how to pull air from outside into my skimmer. I can’t find any information on how to do that on my skimmer.

Now, this is all because I read something that said if your ph wasn’t over 8.0 don’t even think about using a calcium reactor, which is the plan. I’m guessing that’s probably bologna.

 

[rishma]

Interesting, now I have to ask. When is the last time you recalibrate your pH probe?

I was feeling real good about my pH and I decided to recalibrate my probe:

:zany-face: darn thing likes to drift…

Good point for sure, I calibrate a couple times per year and I’m about due. In the end I am not too worried about it because I could see the relative impacts of the changes I made and personally not too worried about the actual number. I suspect my probe is still about right because based on alkalinity, my aerated pH would be about between 8.3 and 8.4.

 

[rishma]

What did you do to raise it and keep it stable?

I’ve tried many things but the most impactful is shared in the thread.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/m...-outdoor-aeration-ph-boost-stability.1084802/
I’ll add the comment here, but it’s implied in the thread linked above. Use of Outdoor Air for aeration can be extremely effective at raising pH by driving out CO2, but it may take a massive amount of air and contact time to make a difference. While not a guideline by any means, I’m aerating with a volume of air per hour that is ~5X my water volume. This can be impractical for many reefers.

 

[I never finish anythi]

I promise this will be the last time I mention PH but if the majority is 8.2-8.4 I’m going down that rabbit hole like it or not

Last time I checked mine about 2 years ago it was 8.2 . I don't worry about it .

 

[scotty333]

OK, that’s a fine approach for reef keeping, and what we all do. However, this does not answer the question - why do you want to change your current PH range to be higher?

Growth mainly

 

[scotty333]

I went down this rabbit hole and ultimately achieved my goals. Do I think it matters? Was it worth it? I really don’t know but I enjoyed the journey.

Despite the efforts I put into it, I actually don’t recommend chasing higher pH for most reefers.

How did you do it , please reveal

 

[scotty333]

Last time I checked mine about 2 years ago it was 8.2 . I don't worry about it .

No need to worry at that

 

[scotty333]

Doesn't cause issues combining AFR with kalk? Figured you'd get too much calcium and alk?

So I’ve got tm a and k for trace and was thinking to top up mag every month as per icp

 

[rishma]

How did you do it , please reveal

No secrets. See post #23 above

 

[164644]

Hello,
Maybe I’m a bit blind… but i think it is extremely difficult to observe a clear change in the growth rates in corals due to specific point.

Of course, I’m excluding extreme cases of shifting from corals dying to growing.

In most normal cases, I’m always a bit skeptical (or surprised) when I hear that changes in ph (for instance) resulted in a dramatic change.

In any case, this doesn’t impact the journey (or fun) to achieve better numbers.
(Please keep in mind the measurement accuracy)
Cheers

My tank is a bit overstocked compared to the volume… so ph is going wild

 

[scotty333]

No secrets. See post #23 above

Gonna give it a go then

 

[scotty333]

Hello,
Maybe I’m a bit blind… but i think it is extremely difficult to observe a clear change in the growth rates in corals due to specific point.

Of course, I’m excluding extreme cases of shifting from corals dying to growing.

In most normal cases, I’m always a bit skeptical (or surprised) when I hear that changes in ph (for instance) resulted in a dramatic change.

In any case, this doesn’t impact the journey (or fun) to achieve better numbers.
(Please keep in mind the measurement accuracy)
Cheers

My tank is a bit overstocked compared to the volume… so ph is going wild

Awesome tank

 

[rishma]

Hello,
Maybe I’m a bit blind… but i think it is extremely difficult to observe a clear change in the growth rates in corals due to specific point.

Of course, I’m excluding extreme cases of shifting from corals dying to growing.

In most normal cases, I’m always a bit skeptical (or surprised) when I hear that changes in ph (for instance) resulted in a dramatic change.

In any case, this doesn’t impact the journey (or fun) to achieve better numbers.
(Please keep in mind the measurement accuracy)
Cheers

My tank is a bit overstocked compared to the volume… so ph is going wild

Great tank. I actually agree with your overall point that success can come in a wide range of pH (and lots of other parameters).

That said, I think the idea that higher pH is good for growth is legitimate. I believe there is a first principles reason this makes sense (which Randy would have to explain) and lot of anecdotal evidence of higher alkalinity demand at higher pH, presumably meaning more growth. So, I think it’s real; however, I’m not advocating it’s worth while.

 

[rishma]

Gonna give it a go then

If you do, would be great to post your experience in that other thread

 

[scotty333]

If you do, would be great to post your experience in that other thread

Certainly

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

7.8 to 8.0 on an aquarium that has had no lights for 7 months. Lights come soon, I hope it increases when I get it on.

If that doesn’t work I need to figure out how to pull air from outside into my skimmer. I can’t find any information on how to do that on my skimmer.

Now, this is all because I read something that said if your ph wasn’t over 8.0 don’t even think about using a calcium reactor, which is the plan. I’m guessing that’s probably bologna.

I’d address pH once it is running, not in an unlit tank. A reactor will make any CO2 problem worse, but there are always options to help.

 

[164644]

Great tank. I actually agree with your overall point that success can come in a wide range of pH (and lots of other parameters).

That said, I think the idea that higher pH is good for growth is legitimate. I believe there is a first principles reason this makes sense (which Randy would have to explain) and lot of anecdotal evidence of higher alkalinity demand at higher pH, presumably meaning more growth. So, I think it’s real; however, I’m not advocating it’s worth while.

Hello!
Agree and I believe that we are aligned on it. And indeed, research points also to the same direction.
Still, I struggle a lot (at least on my tanks) to see visual or clear difference in terms of growth.

For example, an increase of 10%… it is really hard to note…

I’m happy when I hear Sanjay giving feedback from his changes… because I don’t feel alone.
For most of the times, he says: “I couldn’t tell the difference”

 

[rishma]

Hello!
Agree and I believe that we are aligned on it. And indeed, research points also to the same direction.
Still, I struggle a lot (at least on my tanks) to see visual or clear difference in terms of growth.

For example, an increase of 10%… it is really hard to note…

I’m happy when I hear Sanjay giving feedback from his changes… because I don’t feel alone.
For most of the times, he says: “I couldn’t tell the difference”

Right, 10% would be a big change but probably hard to see except over a long period time….during which a lot of other things would probably change too.

 

[scotty333]

I’ve tried many things but the most impactful is shared in the thread.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/m...-outdoor-aeration-ph-boost-stability.1084802/
I’ll add the comment here, but it’s implied in the thread linked above. Use of Outdoor Air for aeration can be extremely effective at raising pH by driving out CO2, but it may take a massive amount of air and contact time to make a difference. While not a guideline by any means, I’m aerating with a volume of air per hour that is ~5X my water volume. This can be impractical for many reefers.

Just invested 120 euros on you
Hope your right

 

[cozzietrade78]

This is as consistent as I can keep it....