pH always dropping

Hi,

My tank is set for nearly 8-10 months...but my pH drops every day from 8.3(Dosing Seachem Marine buffer) to 7.8

What should i b looking at?

 

I'm not very knowledgable about PH as it can be very complicated. I had the same problem and largely ignored it rather then subjecting my live stock to constant p.h swings, anyway when I added my calcium reactor my PH went up to a solid 8.2-8.3.

 

You are on the low end of what I would call acceptable at 7.8, but the swing seems large to me.

PH works with dissolved Carbon Dioxide in your water – assuming your tank is fully aerated PH will be determined by your Alkalinity. Lower Alk will result in lower PH – so I would be interested in your Alkalinity to start with.

If you do regular water changes you might want to consider that your test kit may not be functioning properly (always start simple).

You know – I can sit here and regurgitate Randy Holmes or you can up the article and read it here: Low pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

If your calcium is toward the low end (350-380 ppm) raise it slowly over a few days to 420-450 ppm. That should help.

 

Thanks a lot...I shall try to reduce the water changes...The tap water is at 7.5 maybe thats why it is going low each time...I wont worry about aeration coz i have a hang-on protein skimmer and i have a added a slow air-stone as well...I also run a canister filter(with carbon and seachem sea gel)

As mentioned shall try to increase the Ca...i guess Marine buffer does that to some extent...Let me wait over the weekend and see if it is strong nuf

 

I don’t see how your calcium levels entered this conversation – I thought we were to be focusing on your daily PH swings? Sostoudt posted about his calcium reactor – this is an entirely different avenue, a reactor requires CO2 in order to dissolve the media…thus playing an integral part of his tanks PH….this is not your situation.

Why did you say to reduce the water changes? Did I miss a post? I don’t recall you stating what your current maintenance schedule is? Barring further information I suggest 15% weekly with RO/DI and a quality salt mix (red sea or example)

.......and read the article I linked you to above - this is the information you are requesting, its about a 20 minute read and 3 hours to digest -- but it will get you to where you need to be.

 

use of tap water and stating your reduction of water change are big red flags for me. id be curious what a full panel test on your source water is before and after adding the salt mix.

are you having other issues like algae blooms and such? tap water would contain phosphates and such. i know this isnt anything to do with the PH itself, but it could be another headache down the line.

 

Mag stabilizes Cal, Cal stabilizes Alk, Alk stabilizes PH (synergism).

 

Cal doesn't really stabilize alk. The only time cal has a direct effect on alk is when there's an overabundance of calcium, in which case you can get precipitation of both calcium and alk.

 

Sorry abt that...actually i missed out on to mention on my 3 day WC schedule. I change nearly 20-30% every 3rd day (got the habit of doing this since i used to keep discus for a long time)...I dose the water to be changed with marine buffer and then add to the tank...But the next day morning my reading goes back to 7.8... Maybe i should slow down the WC...I dont use RO/DI ( the one i have needs a fix ) :-[ I use Instant Ocean sea salt

Just had my dinner...Now time to go back to those chemistry classes ...Gonna read that link...thanks

As mentioned above the pH test at 8.3 before i add the tap water..I am not sure of phosphates as i dont have a tester...I have some macros(though the Naso is busy eating them all)...I do have brown algae here and there but nothing major as such...