Low pH problems

No i didnt move the tank...i could but the neighbors woudl get upset and i'd have to beat them with sticks to keep them out of the tank. I just took 1 gallon of tank water outside (figured it might be a passable sample size for a 35 gallon tank).

i changed the flow patterns arond in the tank and it the ph is up to 7.8 this morning i'm wondering if just not getting enough aeration in tank.

Its going the right way if a little slowly. might try the buffer if all else doest produce a stable Ph. I'd rather find the cause then bandaid the problem, but in the end i will do it if it works.

jason

 

You missed the part about your lid, does it cover the whole top?

 

oh sorry about that...no it doesnt only abotu 2/3s of the top, its a bit odd looking but very far from covering the whole top. Its really good reason for me to keep the water level down and avoid really prone jumping species for awhile.

I think last on today i'll start assembling the stuff for a refugium in the stand, its sitting there empty so i might as well do something useful with the stand and its too damn crowded for much in the way of a filter. other than a container a pump a light and some algae.

So far none of the critters seem stressed other than the coraline which is bothering me a little bit. the aptasia are still showing up all over the place..i'm going to have to nuke a coupel getting close to four button polyps that i'm rather fond of (only other thing in there atm).

Jason

Thanks again for all the help on this...20 plus years of fresh water and the simple fix of....if it doesnt look right do water change and check again...so many things are fixed that way . then again i keep reasonable to very hardy FW.

Jason

 

A reverse daylight refugium could help with pH. Good luck!

 

Thanks i'll work on that when i get the extra funds i just got strapped for cash like no one's business again. so much for saving money...oh well i'll get something cobbled up with parts around here .

already gota portion of algae chaeto i think/hope that should work well in the refugium. just have to locate a suitable container and pump....i may put it above the tank for the time being if i cant find a pump powerful enoguh to get it outa the stand and back to the tank.

I"ll come up with something and keep you posted

jason

PS i love this site btw, i'm learning so much at a faster rate than i could have hoped for

 

I see I forgot to post 1 other article, some how I deleted it


Low pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

Hmmm, lets see if I got this right. CO2 is heavier than O2 rich air. Therefore, the basement should have more CO2 than the rest of the house. Ergo, the air intakes for the Beckets in the basement should be rerouted outside for more O2 to raise my Ph so I don't have to dose as much Kalk. Got it.

Anyone have a bug, rain, ice, and clog proof inlet design?

 

CO2 is heavier than O2 rich air. Therefore, the basement should have more CO2 than the rest of the house.

One could conclude that but usually the difference is very little if any.


Beckets in the basement should be rerouted outside for more O2 to raise my Ph so I don't

O2 has no effect on pH what so ever. Air in basement for the most part is cooler and cooler air has more O2 but also not much to talk about. So, you are kinda' trading one for the other. However, rerouting it out side would have less CO2 and help rasie the pH.

 

Well i've added the reverse light refugium (i've been wanting too and i figured it couldnt hurt).

i've lowered the water level so the returns from the filters aerate more, goosed up the skimmer (its a prizm...so not great but it does get some stuff out).

and now my Ph is 8.4 and stable, i havent checked the night time Ph i'll do that tonight but the day to day Ph is holding its own and the little button polpys are starting to open more and of course the aptasia are still multiplying...i might have to do something to limit that in the near future.

jason

 

Maintaining a steady alk will keep your pH at bay. Why is there CO2 in the tank, dont you areate it via a skimmer?