Can't Get PH to Raise Higher Than 7.8...HELP!

Hello,

As of now I have one green chromis, some snails, and some crabs inside my tank. After about a week or two my PH is still at 7.8. I have been adding Seachem marine buffer pretty much every single day and still the PH remains the same. I have changed the water twice so far but for some reason my PH will not go up. How can I get the PH to raise to the appropriate levels so I can start adding more fish? Someone please help!?!?!

 

what is your kH, calcium and magnesium? What is your SG at presently? These are linked to each other...so you might have to adjust more then just buffer. If you dont have these kits run a sample up to your LFS and let them run them.

There is a product by aqua vitro called 8.4 that will bring it up..but it wont stay up unless everythign else is in line.

 

also do you have a lid on your tank? That can cause it also I think

 

yes i have a lid...the only test kit I have is KH...which is around 3.5 i beleive....i don't even know what SG is?

 

specific gravity, the reading you take with a hydrometer...if you dont have one get one! This helps tell you how high the salinity in your tank is and it is very important to know what it is at all times

 

How are you measuring your salinity??

 

So you are adding fish to the tank, but don't know what the salinity is, i would get yourself a refractometer, bit more expensive then a hydrometer but a lot more accurate and test the water, even better get a sample to the lfs in the meantime.

needs to be aound 1.021 to 1.026 depending on what you have in the tank...

 

ohhh ya i have a hydrometer...I just didn't know what SG stood for....My salinity is at 1.024

 

You shouldnt keep a lid on a tank, no gas exchange. You will need to buy some test kits, Cal, Alk/Dkh, Mag, PH and SG if you have a reef tank and Nh3, No2, No3 and Po4 for a fish only tank. We need to know where your Alk is at. Do you have your house all closed up? Luna

 

I was worried to keep the lid off because my light sits right on the tank and I was worried the fish will jump out...should I take the lid off?...it is a fish only tank with live rock at the moment...i dont think im gonna be adding corals for a while...I just checked the PH and thankfully it was at 8.2....im not sure if thats because I JUST added the Seachem PH buffer like 30 min ago....I have some premixed saltwater ready cause I was going to change it becuase I heard that makes the PH go up...should i still change the water tommorow?