Need to lower ph fast...

[Trippy]

:roll:
Hey there, can someone please help me with a problem, my ph is very high...my alk is just fine...but my calcium levels are low...300...how and what can i do...? I have Kalkwasser mix right now...anything else i can buy or use...whats this about baking soda? does that help? if so..what dose..and how do you use it...
all my other levels are fine btw....

Thanks
Trippy

 

[Anonymous]

I can't help you with the other issues, but I will warn you that you must be very careful playing around with pH. You must be more specific when you say "my pH is very high". How high is "very high"?

Use your observations: how do the animals look? Just because parameters aren't exactly where you feel they need to be doesn't necessarily mean that you have to act "fast".

Baking soda will bring your pH up, but its ability to buffer (I'm assuming you mean this "kind" of alkalinity) can be somewhat limited, especially if you're battling extremely well-buffered water that "wants" to stay low in pH. Since your calcium levels appear to be low, I will suggest that you look to calcareous live rock, coral rubble, Aragonite sand, or some other calcareous substance to not only bugger..shoot! I mean BUFFER your water, but to help stabilize pH. Also, there remain questions with your water source.

Also, it happens not infrequently that one's tests may be inaccurate. Be certain your reagents and all are fresh and properly stored (this means that if it's as cold up there in Halifax as I think it is, you may want to be sure that they're not where they're exposed to extreme cold). Of course, not being a chemist, I can't categorically state that you must keep tests/reagents, etc. temp controlled, but I am of the opinion that it might be a good idea.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[LFS42]

I've heard that mixing the kalk with viniger (sp) will lower the pH of the kalk.
Just what I have heard

 

[Wild Child]

Seamaiden makes good points...

How high is "very high"?

Just because it is above 8.3 does not mean, as Seamaiden stated, that you need to lower it right away. Mine has been peaking about 8.45 just before lights out. In this thread : http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22830&highlight=, Randy, who is a chemist, says his peaks here too. I have since ordered the B-ionic he recommended.

Also, check out this article http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2002/chem.htm that Randy wrote.

Seamaiden:

Baking soda will bring your pH up,

From what I understand in the other thread, BS will slightly lower your pH.

HTH,
Dave

 

[Anonymous]

LOULE! You will laugh when I tell you how I misread this:

From what I understand in the other thread, BS will slightly lower your pH.

Yes, in my opinion Bull Sh!t will indeed lower you pH. :lol:

<Evelyn Woode! Don't fail me now!>

 

[Will C1]

bull sh!t might indeed lower your ph but i wouldent want to put it in my tank lol :lol: