Hello all, hope all is well.
Having a problem keeping my ph high enough, tired of adding chemicals, was wondering if it could just be that I have so much coral??? Just a thought?? Just can't figure this one out?
But, can't seem to keep it up in the 8.2 range???
Thanks to all & enjoy the hobby

How low does it get? 7.9- 8.2 is pretty normal. Heres a good article The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 3: pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php)

ph could also be low because alk is out of whack too. i would check everything. PH, Alk, Cal, and Mag are all reliant upon each other.

Thanks for the web site info, kinda looking like I might have a carbon dioxide problem????
Now how to fix that, can't open any windows, as I am from OHIO & it gets to cold here, so have to look at other ways of getting rid of that!!

Thanks again










How low does it get? 7.9- 8.2 is pretty normal. Heres a good article The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 3: pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php)

I'll do a complete check, but almost believe that it is from (carbon Dioxcide) maybe.
Can't open any windows here, as I live in OHIO & it is to cold here for that.
Might go talk with my LFS & see what they have to say.
Thanks again





ph could also be low because alk is out of whack too. i would check everything. PH, Alk, Cal, and Mag are all reliant upon each other.

aim a powerhead toward the top of the water and let it cause a good ripple effect on the surface. that should add oxygen to the tank.

I already have too spray bars that do that for me??
Thanks though!!


aim a powerhead toward the top of the water and let it cause a good ripple effect on the surface. that should add oxygen to the tank.

All you have to do is crack the window not really open it. In our house I just unlatch the window and un-snug it from the weather seal at the top. I don't even drop it below the top edge of the frame.

I understand about the window, but it is too cold to do that, as a matter of fact, I put up plastic around my windows just to keep it warm in my house.
So, what I was thinking about doing, was running a pump into a 20 gallon tank & having it open & putting in an air stone & pumping it back into my main tank???
At least I would know I was putting in oxygen.
Any thoughts on that????

Thanks





All you have to do is crack the window not really open it. In our house I just unlatch the window and un-snug it from the weather seal at the top. I don't even drop it below the top edge of the frame.

I dont think the airstone in a another tank will do much. Are you running a skimmer? If so, it wont accomplish any more than thats already doing.

You never did answer my first question. What is your PH at and how are you testing it. You might be worrying about nothing.

My bad, sorry thought I had answered your other questions.
My ph is 7.8 right now, it will not get above 8.0, after my lights come on.
Yes I am running a skimmer, I use a ph & temp probe that I just had tested last week & it is only .1 off, so it is pretty much right.
I just thought that by putting air into a 20 gallon tank & then sending it to my main tank would help out with the oxygen levels, or help out by getting rid of some of the carbonize that might be in my main tank, which may be causing my ph not to rise?

Thanks



I dont think the airstone in a another tank will do much. Are you running a skimmer? If so, it wont accomplish any more than thats already doing.

You never did answer my first question. What is your PH at and how are you testing it. You might be worrying about nothing.

The problem with pumping air into the 20 gallon is that you will still be adding CO2 saturated air, so you wont see a benefit. You could try a Kalk drip, which would not only raise PH, but supplement calcium and alk also.

Did a test yesterday, sat out a cup of water, for 10 min., then put an airstone in the cup for 10 min., then let it set for another 10 min., no change in the ph, so the problem is not air, that proved that.
I am going to set up a kalk drip today, I think it will work better than just pouring all of it in a once.
I'll let ya know how well it goes.
Thanks






The problem with pumping air into the 20 gallon is that you will still be adding CO2 saturated air, so you wont see a benefit. You could try a Kalk drip, which would not only raise PH, but supplement calcium and alk also.

You MUST drip kalk, you should not ever dump a whole batch in at once or you will raise your pH too fast.

Did you set the water outside or in the house?

I understand about the window, but it is too cold to do that, as a matter of fact, I put up plastic around my windows just to keep it warm in my house.
So, what I was thinking about doing, was running a pump into a 20 gallon tank & having it open & putting in an air stone & pumping it back into my main tank???
At least I would know I was putting in oxygen.
Any thoughts on that????

Thanks

You might end up adding a bit of oxygen by doing that, but not much. Only around 20% of the air volume you're pumping in is even oxygen to begin with, and most of it (being lighter than water) will simply float away when the bubbles pop (an ozonizer would be a different story).

In any case, your skimmer is already a fine atmosphere and water mixing chamber. Can you adjust where the skimmer is getting it's air from? I run airline tubing from my skimmer's air intake to a nearby cold air return vent to avoid recirculating carbon dioxide from the local room atmosphere - perhaps you can do something like that? (Note: avoid toxic fume sources such as dryer vents, chimneys, or ducts that lead into a garage). Another option is opening the window wide enough to fit a slim chunk of wood in the crack of the window, then drill a 1/4" hole in the wood for the airline tubing and re-seal the weather guard around the airline tubing with tape.

I've found that having a fresh air source on a skimmer helps quite a bit with maintaining pH. Even running airline tubing from the skimmer intake to a basement storage room or spare bedroom can make a difference.

I completely understand not wanting to open up a window, though, as I'm up in Edmonton, AB, Canada ... quite a bit colder than Ohio, but slightly warmer than Hoth! (if you didn't get that Star Wars reference you're younger than me!)

Hoth, Borg cubes, what is this place coming to?