Wash off live rock ?

[btodd43]

In my 6 gal nano I have live rock rubble in chambers 1 and 2 and cant seem to get my ph up it stays at 8.0.tanks been up for 5 months and I haven't touched the live rock in the back compartments and am thinking it could be the cause of the low ph ?
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Foot Problems Forum

 

[insearch]

Are you adding any buffers at all? what is your alkalinity?

 

[btodd43]

No Ph buffers-just gos back down the next day- Alk is up to 4.6meg/l,What do you think about washing off the live rock in chamber 1+2? Have good surface aggitation and window open all day (Co2)- I dont ever blow off live rock in tank- corals and fish don't like the stuff it produces.
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BMW X6

 

[insearch]

IMO it sounds like a good idea to have LR in chamber and I am going to keep an eye on this thread and may do the same depending on the feedback. I am new to nanos and I've had my 55 up and running for 1.5 years. My initial thought is that if the PH does drop even only for the day, your system is not suppling the buffers required to maintain your PH and you will have to fing a way to suppliment this. I know not much help but maybe one of the big dogs on this site can help you further.

 

[btodd43]

Thanks Insearch, yeah just a newbie, sucks huh? I was told to blast your live rock in the tank with a turkey baster, but don't the cleanup crew do it for you? If I should blast the live rock in the back chambers it is very hard to get the turkey baster all the way down to the bottom -Hence thats why I'm saying do I take it out and give it a salt water bath?
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Honda Shadow Sabre

 

[Anonymous]

I don't see anything wrong with a PH of 8.0. If you're really concerned take a look in the corners and inaccessible places for any detritus that is piling up. How's the waterflow? Is there any kind of DOC slick on the water surface that could prevent excess CO2 from escaping?

You are right to not use a buffer to raise PH. With ALK that high it would have the opposite effect once the initial PH rise is spent.

 

[btodd43]

Thanks Guy, Thats what I thought- Good surface aggitation, put in a loc-line spraybar all the way across the top -spraying down toward front glass, makes a little bit of a mess but worth it. I never want to use a buffer. scares me, I do 1 gal water change per week, Tropic Marin -have to add mag,and cal, but I tested after 24 hour mix and ph was 8.0 ? I will take out live rock in back chambers and let all the junk just blow into the tank and let the sponge soak it all up. I am just worried that it might not be liked by the corals and fish- I really dont't know of any other way to do it its only 4 gals because of all the LR in the tank.
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Honda CT110

 

[ChrisRD]

I dont ever blow off live rock in tank- corals and fish don't like the stuff it produces.

I recommend using a turkey baster or small powerhead to give your rock a good cleaning from time to time (same for any rock you might have in fuges, sumps, etc.). I prefer doing this right before a water change so you can syphon up the resulting crud. Another option is to run some sort of power filter or, if you have a sump, maybe a micron sock on your drain line, to catch the crud while it's still suspended.

FWIW, the detritus storm that can ensue after doing this can actually be a good food source for many corals. Why do you feel they don't like it?

 

[btodd43]

Sounds good to me -that's what I'll do. I'll blast off the rock and LR in back chambers with pump off then pump through a sponge back into tank, About the detritus- I just figured it's like trash and -I dunno :lol:
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the global economy

 

[ChrisRD]

Yes, as strange as it may seem, on the reef, one critter's crap is another critter's food... 8O :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, as strange as it may seem, on the reef, one critter's crap is another critter's food... 8O :wink:

It's amazing how my coral polyps open up when I do a good "detrius" storm".

 

[WBrian]

What's the Carbonate Hardness in your tank? Mine tends to run a little on the low side, and with that, my PH was having trouble staying up where I wanted it. So I've been using Super Buffer DKH. It pops my PH up and brings the KH up as well. After a few weeks of treating this way, by KH got up and I rarely have to use the buffer anymore (maybe once a month, now).

Might be worth a try...

Later,
Brian

 

[btodd43]

Brian- yeah My Dkh keeps going down all the time hovers around 2.9meg/l and ph won't go up past 8.0 so I used buffer last night(hate to use buffers)This morn the Dkh was up to 3.6meg/l so I should be on the right track.
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Grief or Loss Forum

 

[Anonymous]

Is the reef rubble "in chambers 1 & 2" collecting detritus?

 

[btodd43]

Yes- But some people say to leave it alone ( Miricle mud ?) and some say to blast it with a turkey baster and create a storm and blow it into the tank ?
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Love Forum

 

[Anonymous]

It needs to be removed. Apparently the area is lacking in animals that graze on detritus. If you leave it then it will continue to accumulate and rot and degrade your water quality.

Adding buffer may make you feel better because the PH rises for a couple of days but PH isn't the problem. PH is a symptom of a problem. That problem being rotting accumulated detritus.

I don't know what your setup looks like but if you can remove the detritus it will be better than spreading it around although spreading it around will work better than leaving it where it is. Is there an output to the areas where you can place a filter pad or sock to catch the detritus when you blow it out from the rocks?

 

[btodd43]

Yes- I can its the live rock I have in the back 2 chambers along with purigen and Rowa bags- I'll have to rig some thing up to hook to the pump (left over sponge from compartment #1) and blow back there with a turkey baster while holding the sponge over the pump outlet so it gos back into the tank.
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Honda Sonic

 

[Anonymous]

In my humble opinion that is the best course of action.