How do you lower your PH

So i just stopped using saltwater when doing top offs, i didn't know that your supposed to use ro/di freshwater, so i am now. I tested my Ph with my hydrometer, and it reads 1.027 and i think it raised because i was topping off with saltwater. When i first setup my tank 5 weeks ago it was at a good 1.023, so how do i lower it, just keep doing topp offs with freshwater?

 

Thats the salinity you are measuring. 1.027 is a little on the high side so what you can do is take out a little bit of water and replace with freshwater. Make sure you do this a little at a time and check to see what your salinity reads at after each little bit. Whats happening with your top offs is the water is evaporating out of the tank. The salt however will not evaporate so in theory if the level of your tank always stays the same your salinity will never change.

 

Honestly, IMO id go get a refratometer asap and go from there, i agree with teh above take about maybe 2.5 gallons of water and add fresh water but go get that meter ASAP swing arms are always going to give you different readings esp if you dont rinse them out after every use.

 

yea, i have now learned that salt doesnt evaporate. But the only problem with taking some water out, is it would be like a small water change, and with my tank still cycling, should i wait until my cycling is done and then work on lowering my ph?

 

Yeah... you may want to get a PH test kit too.

 

refractometer is on my to get list, so that is eventually coming and i was also getting weird readings on my puffer's tank who i keep as high brackish but the hydrometer was reading 1.014, *really low* and i don't know why, it changes so drastically, it's either from a bad hydrometer, or i'm losing the salt because i get really bad salt creep in that tank, and my skimmer never skimms. And by the way i'm loving the ocotopus on my 46, it's already skimming crap, but it's really loud

 

i have one, i haven't tested it since i set up the tank

 

You keep saying ph but its not ph thats at 1.027 its your salinty

 

ohh haha my bad not paying attention, my brain thinks one thing, my hands type another

 

haha a tank with pH of 1.027 would literally dissolve a fish lol!