Low PH ??

[sea star]

Hi, My PH is around 8.0 I have been using seachems marine buffer,it just wont come up.I may have a Co2 problem.Could I run a airline in from outside into an airstone in my tank,would this work.Its to cold to open the windows!! We have gas heat. Thanks Sea star

 

[Anonymous]

Hi sea star, welcome to reefs.org!

A pH of 8 is just fine. If your inhabitants appear to be doing well, use this as your best indicator. Plus, fiddling with a pH that's at an acceptable level can actually cause you lots more problems than you'd like, and deaths from pH shock happen faster than you'll know.

If it's too cold to open the windows, you'll find that you'll be cooling your tank far more than anything in it will like if you do that.

 

[Mikef1]

Sea star, I agree with seamaiden 8.0 is fine. Just currius have you tested it at night time or early in the morning before the lights come on? This way you will know what the lowest point is. Also what is your alkalinity?

 

[sea star]

Thanks,Sea maiden,and Mikef---------This is a new tank, 3 weeks old,I usually check Ph about 7 in the morning.Alkalinity is 6.0 meg/L------This is what has me concerned ,my Alk. is going up.

 

[sea star]

Hi every one--Checked my alkalinity at ll oclock----was 5.0 I hooked up a air stone to hall way I have that doesnt have any heat to it,for a couple of hours,still no change in PH--8.05,I have a 5''sand bed alsne thing,the Ph is constant. SEA STAR

 

[randy holmes-farley]

Are you adding something that is raising the alkalinity? 6 meq/l is too high unless you are using Seachem salt mix (which has excess borate in it that shows up as alkalinity).

 

[sea star]

RANDY,I use bio-sea marine mix salt,and seachems marine buffer is all.

 

[sea star]

Randy,When I first mixed up my tank RODI water,It was 7.0PH I mixed my top off water a little high thinking this would help take it up,it didnt,it was mixed at8.9.I put a lid the top off water,I tested today,still 8.9 its in the same room only with a lid on.Is this some thing I might have to live with.Please help SEASTAR

 

[randy holmes-farley]

OK, don't use buffer to solve pH problems. I can't really tell what ph goes where, but the pH in the RO/DI water doesn't matter and will have no real impact on the aquarium.

I presume that you mean pH 7.9 and not 8.9?

Using a high pH alaklinitya dditive (when you need to supplement alaklinity) is a good way to go. Limewater, for example, or a high ph two part system like B-ionic.


This article describes how to solve pH problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... 2/chem.htm


.

 

[randy holmes-farley]

FWIW, I'll be on vacation for a week now, so I won't be around to follow up until then.

 

[sea star]

Randy,thanks for getting back to me.I did mean8.9,for my top off water.I thought by raising it up I could bring my Ph,up didnt work.Charlie