Help lowering pH

I change 10% of the tank's water weekly and I've been using Nutrafin tap water conditioner. The tank is 55gal with a wet/dry filter, AquaC urchin protein skimmer, a marineland hang-on filter and the tank has about 35lbs of liverock. The bottom of the tank has 2 inches of live sand mixed with crushed coral. Any suggestions? pH right now is 8.6, salinity 1.022 and alkalinity is high.

Thanks!

 

What is your alk number?

 

the alk is between 2.9 - 3.6

 

I can only guess this is because of a contaminant in your tap water. Do you mind running a pH check on just your plain tap?

I would recommend using RODI water instead anyway, but in this case, it might be absolutely necessary.

 

My tap water ph is 7.4. What about distilled water? I've had the tank going for two years but You can consider me a beginner. my main problem is my yellow tang doesn't look good. he's actually white and his fins are gone, but he swims around and eats everything.

 

The fish problem and water source sounds much more serious than the pH. I would also slowly bring up the SG to 1.025.

Are you treating the tang for anything? If not that should be a consideration.

If you need assistance with diagnosis of the fish and treatment, you can get great assistance on this forum.

A picture of the fish would really help too.

 

The other fish i have in the tank all seem fine. They all eat and swim around and i don't notice any bullying going on. i have two percula clowns, a six line wrasse, a niger trigger, a yellow tang, and a blonde naso tang ( i'm getting rid of him this week) i'll get a picture up asap. i can us all the help i can get. i definitly want to get my tank right.

 

Well, I'd agree with all of the above.... Tank seems overstocked for a 55gal. I'd start by getting a complete water chemistry read out... Alk, Ca, Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia, SG. Then I'd raise the SG to 1.025.

My guess is that some of your other parameters might be out of whack as well.

BTW -- How are you testing your pH? I thought mine was running high and I started by recalibrating my AC Jr probe to be sure.... and my pH problem was instantly solved.

M

 

I have the red sea marine lab. i don't have anything to test my Ca yet. Once i get rid of the blonde naso the filtration should have less of a load. i might get rid of the trigger as well. i want to start a reef but i want to have everything right first.

 

Good job going slow first.... it will benefit you in the end.

M