PH low, Alk high

[btodd43]

Using Warner marine PH buffer to get my PH up but it obviously raises alk also is there anyway to avoid this or is it just part of the deal? Thanks,
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[Anonymous]

ALK = Buffer. Different name for the same thing. Buffer is the marketing name, Alkalinity is the hobby name. Bicarbonate or Carbonate with a pinch of Borate is what it really is.

In my opinion there is nothing worse for your system than dosing a buffer to raise PH unless your Alkalinity is low.

What is you PH range throughout the day, what's you Calcium level, where's you ALK & Magnesium?

Do you run a skimmer?

How's your waterflow?

 

[btodd43]

Hey Guy-Thanks for responding- I do hate to put in a buffer-but we had a few deaths due to the wifes overstocking and almost crashed the tank- so of course the ph dropped to 7.7 and more things died -so I ran all the tests did a water change(before the tests) and only the Ph was low so now the ph is up to about 8.1,but now after using the buffer the alk is up to 4.6 meg/l. I don't run a skimmer, Live rock in chambers 1and2,with foam pad on top of chamber 1,stock lighting,here are results this am: salinity 1.024
PH-8.1
alk-4.6 meg/l
mag-1390
cal-430
temp-78
Thanks-what do you think? Water changes until alk comes down,and ph comes back up? It's a bone stock 6 gal nano.
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[Anonymous]

With the overstocked condition you need a way to blow off the excess CO2. A skimmer would do that well but I suppose that's not a viable option.

Pointing a powerhead to make ripples on the water surface will help. Dripping limewater will help too, quite a bit in fact but be stingy about feeding a 5 gallon limewater.

You ALK isn't dangerously high as long as your PH stays where it's at. Water changes will quickly get ALK back to normal but it may not be needed.

I'd really suggest you post in the Nano forum. I've been doing reef tanks for a long time but nano tanks are a different animal.

lastly, It looks like you have everything under control. Had you kep dosing the buffer you'd find that the PH would have been going up & down like a Yo-Yo and that's really stressful.

 

[btodd43]

Yeah- Also Guy,I did put in a Loc-Line spraybar and a bigger Rio 400 pump so- good surface aggitation- But 1 more thing-I have been keeping my salinity at 1.023 but was told to get it up to 1.025-26 and I have been doing it gradually during water changes-noticed with the higher salt levels that the corals hardly open at all-? And I am mixing the salt with tropic Marin and dissolving real well (not overnight) that could be the problem with the recent deaths? arrrgh!!
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[Anonymous]

But 1 more thing-I have been keeping my salinity at 1.023 but was told to get it up to 1.025-26 and I have been doing it gradually during water changes-noticed with the higher salt levels that the corals hardly open at all-? And I am mixing the salt with tropic Marin and dissolving real well (not overnight) that could be the problem with the recent deaths? arrrgh!!

The safest way to raise salinity is by using saltwater of the same salinity as the tank for topoff.

I strongly recommend that you mix & aerate your saltwater 12 - 24 hours before using it.