Topoff ?

[fishfanatic2]

Evaporation wasnt a problem inmy tank before I went reef, so I am doing for the second time even though the tank has been up for a year. My water is coming out 7.2 pH, and Im not sure how to raise it. Obviusly I could get those pH raisers, but those are quick fixes that just add crap to the tank. Dumping chemicals in is not the solution. What do yall do? Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I use the seachem reef buffer for alk and reef advantage calcium. They are designed to maintain the pH at 8. It works well for me.

 

[mooner]

Yes, Alk additives and top off with kalk if you are not already doing some other calcium additive. That will raise Ph also and its easy to mix in large batches.

 

[Anonymous]

I use a buffer......but my PH has never been as low as yours.

 

[ADS]

I would recommend a 2part Ca/buffer solution for a small system. It corrects the imbalance when dosed correctly over a period of weeks.
Low alk and high organics w/die-off will lower pH also.
Are rest of parameters OK?
Adam

 

[K9coral]

I agree with ADS, I use Kent Marine Part A & B buffering solution. B-Ionic is also supposed to be good but I cannot tell you from exp.

 

[DougBak]

Before you start dosing anything, I'd make sure it's not overloaded with CO2 and O2 deprived. Set a container with some water from the tank outside with an airstone in it for a few hours and then test it. If the PH is higher, it's a gas problem, not a chemical problem.

If it's low O2, you can throw the rest of the tank params into a frenzy trying to dose enough to fix it.

 

[Anonymous]

Hold on guys...his reef isn't at 7.2 or else it would be dead. He means his top off water.

I don't worry about the PH of my top of water. I figure the tank has a high enough alk to take up the slack from the gallon I add every day. And I have never noticed any kind of fluctuation in pH after adding top off water.

Are you seeing a dip in pH after topping off?

 

[K9coral]

10-4 CPT. I concur, top off water is not much unless its 10gal or more!

 

[fishfanatic2]

Manny, you are very smart. :wink:

I have not seen any dip yet, so I assume that adding a gallon or two is not enough to offset everything. IO usually bings up the pH and adds all the elements I need. Just curious to see what everyone does.

THanks, though...I still may look into a calcium additive.