Raising my PH?????

Im trying to raise my ph. Its at about 7.8 right now. I have been adding baking soda, but doesnt seem to be working. Before I keep adding more I wanted some advice. Cycling my tank now.

 

If you have used a good salt mix, have your tank in a well ventillated area, and use a protein skimmer your pH should be okay. I would get your LFS to double check your pH just in case you have a dodgy test kit. How are you measuring salinity and what are you keeping it at? I recommend using a calibrated refractometer as a hydrometer can be completely out and if your salinity is lower it can affect pH.

If your tank isn't well ventillated or your not using a protein skimmer, you can get a build up of CO2 which will lower pH.

pH will fluctuate throughout the day, I would check your alkalinity as pH and alk are related and will give you an indication if there is a problem. pH can fluctuate from 7.8 to 8.2 and is usually at its lowest early in the morning and at its highest in the evening after lights have been on and results from photosynthesis from organisms in your tank.

 

Ah, a new tank,
Being that your tank is a new tank you will probably experience all sorts of fluctuations in alkalinity, pH, salinity, calcium, oxygen, not to mention diatoms and nuisance algae growth.
Raising pH...
Are you using aragonite sand?
Probably the best way to increase pH is to dose Kalkwasser! Kalkwasser has a pH of about 12, so addig this to an aquarium, WILL definitely raise the pH of aquarium water.
Having said this, however, it is necessary and crucial NOT to try and raise(or lower) pH values of aquarium water to dramatically or negative results will pervail, especially with regards to inverts, like ornamental shrimp!!!!
MONITOR THE pH and SLOWLY raise the level to optimal results!
Good luck

 

yes I am using aragonite/live sand bought from lfs.

 

Im using ro/di h2o, reef crystals, the tank is in my living room, so I am assuming its well ventilated. I was told not to use my skimmer. I am using a hydrometer and the salinity is 1.022-1.023. I havent purchased a test kit for alk yet.

 

I remember my ph being low till my tank cycled and I had everything running, I didn't worry about any parameters till it got cycled and everything stabilized as I remember,just the temp. I would wait till your tanks ran it course and everythings been running for a few days before I started testing things.

 

I agree, don't worry while cycling. Also if you're using a test kit there's a good chance it might be inaccurate, or you may be misreading the color or something.

Here's some more info on pH which I think is good to understand. Skip over anything that is too technical for you, there's still a lot of good info.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php