I have been putting buffer (measured as directed) in my top off water tank to bring up the ph before it is added to my reef tank. My problem is that when I check the ph level in he top off water, it never reads above 7.6 or so. Is this due to the fact that there is no lighting over the top off water or is it some other reason? And when it is added to my reef tank is it adjusted to the correct reading of around 8.2 or so?
-
Welcome back Guest!MARSH is a private reefing group. Comments and suggestions are encouraged, but please keep them positive and constructive. Negative threads, posts, or attacks will be removed from view and reviewed by the staff. Continually disruptive, argumentative, or flagrant rule breakers may be suspended or banned.
ph problem (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter dillo
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Users who are viewing this thread
djreef
Guest
Get some good old fashioned pickling lime. Ball brand or Mrs Wages. You can normally find them in the canning sections of most grocery stores. Mix a teaspoon per gallon, let settle then use that water for your topoff. Add it slowly so you don't shock anything.
DJ
= 8-->{I>
DJ
= 8-->{I>
G
Guest
Chronic low pH problems are usually caused by either insufficient aeration, or excess indoor CO2. To figure out which it is, take a cup of tank water and measure the pH. Then aerate the cup of water with an airstone for an hour and measure the pH again. If the pH rises, then you need more aeration in the tank - increasing your circulation or using a protein skimmer will usually correct this problem.
If the pH doesn't rise, then you most likely have a lot of indoor CO2. This is a common problem in Houston, especially if you are in a newer home. To confirm that is the problem, take that cup of water you just aerated and aerate it outside for an hour. If the pH rises, then you have excess indoor CO2.
To correct this problem, most people end up just topping off with kalk/pickling lime (as mentioned above). The other solution is to vent the excess CO2, either by leaving your windows open a lot of the time (not very practical around here) or adding a fresh air intake to your AC, which is what I did when we had our AC replaced this summer.
If the pH doesn't rise, then you most likely have a lot of indoor CO2. This is a common problem in Houston, especially if you are in a newer home. To confirm that is the problem, take that cup of water you just aerated and aerate it outside for an hour. If the pH rises, then you have excess indoor CO2.
To correct this problem, most people end up just topping off with kalk/pickling lime (as mentioned above). The other solution is to vent the excess CO2, either by leaving your windows open a lot of the time (not very practical around here) or adding a fresh air intake to your AC, which is what I did when we had our AC replaced this summer.
G
Guest
the lime makes Kalkwasser, put in about 1 tbs per gallon of makeup.
Your reef needs this , it's calcuim.
I also highly reccomend www.reefcentral.com thever got a great begginer faq on reef chemistry.
cheers!
Your reef needs this , it's calcuim.
I also highly reccomend www.reefcentral.com thever got a great begginer faq on reef chemistry.
cheers!
