Tufa Rock

[nsu7]

I've tried testing my pH at different times of the day and it is 7.8. I just can't get over the feeling that the Jumbo Tufa Rock I added caused the pH to go from 8.2 to 7.8 (the drop happened immediately after the Tufa addition)

Is this possible or am I just unecessarily stressing out about the pH at this stage (1/2 through cycle). I thought Tufa had buffering qualities, yes/no?

 

[mjvincent]

Your ph will drop throughout the cycle. Tufa has been used safely in SW for quite some time. Finish you cycle and then do a pwc and then check your ph. Do you have a glass top on the tank? Lack of gas exchange can drop ph too...

 

[nsu7]

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what did it then. I do have a glass cover, and it was covering the better part of the tank, with only a Emperor 400 for water turnover when I added it. Now I have a hagen 70, powersweep 228, magnum 350, coralife superskimmer220, and the emperor 400 turning over the water. I will also take off the plastic runners that cover the space between the back of the tank and the glass cover.