Need help getting pH up!!! - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

Hara · 04-10-2006, 01:38 PM

Adding Crushed coral to the substrate will become a problem in the long run by becoming a nitrate issue.

As far as the ph, you say you have a jbj nano cube, I am assuming it is covered? If it is, that could be a big part of the problem. Surface agitation is also something to consider. If the powerheads are placed low, there isnt alot of surface water movement. Water movement throughout the tank does not help the gas exchange, that takes place at the surface. I don't know if this describes your set up or not. If it does, then more agitation at the surface will increase your ph.

tecwzrd · 04-10-2006, 01:46 PM

I should have mentioned his other post (or he could have) and that L2’s ph problem wasn’t because of covering the tank causing the CO2 to rise and ph to fall.

L2 · 04-10-2006, 02:02 PM

Yup, I have a JBJ Nano Cube but I keep the front of the canopy open and the return pump creates quite a bit of surface agitation seeing as I upgraded the pump. What about using a small fan to blow accross the surface?

Anyhow, my Alk is only 2.86 so I think I'm going to try using B-IONIC calcium buffer to get my Alk up slowly... So my pH will naturally rise. My pH will never rise if my Alk is so low...

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=EV1111

What do you guys think?

04-10-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L2

What do you guys think?

Stop messing with the chemistry and start looking at ways to impove gas exchange in the tank. Until that's addressed, your pH will continue to be a problem. The fan is a good idea, just make sure it's pointed towards the opening you posted about earlier and watch the evap.

Cheers
Steve

L2 · 04-10-2006, 06:55 PM

Ok, but can someone explain to me how my Alk is supposed to go up by itself? A fan will effect the pH slightly but how do people get their Alkalinity where it should be? Right now mine is 2.86. It should be closer to 3.5... Something tells me that if I had a higher Alk I'd automatically have a higher pH. So how do people generally go about achieving that without any supplements?

04-10-2006, 07:16 PM

LOL.. chill!

You where asking about pH, not alkalinity. You cannot control the pH by increasing the alk anyway. All alkalinity does is help keep pH stable.

Buffers are used for alkainity when needed, of course. 2.86 mE/ql alk is not bad at all. 3.0-3.25 is actually the highest it needs to be, 3.5 is excessive.

To get from 2.86 to 3.0, you'll need about 1/8th of a teaspoon if that.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Cheers
Steve

L2 · 04-10-2006, 07:22 PM

Wow!

That calculator is Awesome!!! Thanks!

04-10-2006, 01:38 PM	#11
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	Adding Crushed coral to the substrate will become a problem in the long run by becoming a nitrate issue. As far as the ph, you say you have a jbj nano cube, I am assuming it is covered? If it is, that could be a big part of the problem. Surface agitation is also something to consider. If the powerheads are placed low, there isnt alot of surface water movement. Water movement throughout the tank does not help the gas exchange, that takes place at the surface. I don't know if this describes your set up or not. If it does, then more agitation at the surface will increase your ph. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

04-10-2006, 01:46 PM	#12
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	I should have mentioned his other post (or he could have) and that L2’s ph problem wasn’t because of covering the tank causing the CO2 to rise and ph to fall. __________________ -Micah- If you haven't figured it out yet I like to BOLD links :P Vote for AA at Aqua Rank

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04-10-2006, 02:02 PM	#13
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	Yup, I have a JBJ Nano Cube but I keep the front of the canopy open and the return pump creates quite a bit of surface agitation seeing as I upgraded the pump. What about using a small fan to blow accross the surface? Anyhow, my Alk is only 2.86 so I think I'm going to try using B-IONIC calcium buffer to get my Alk up slowly... So my pH will naturally rise. My pH will never rise if my Alk is so low... http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=EV1111 What do you guys think?

04-10-2006, 06:55 PM	#15
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	Ok, but can someone explain to me how my Alk is supposed to go up by itself? A fan will effect the pH slightly but how do people get their Alkalinity where it should be? Right now mine is 2.86. It should be closer to 3.5... Something tells me that if I had a higher Alk I'd automatically have a higher pH. So how do people generally go about achieving that without any supplements?

04-10-2006, 07:16 PM	#16
steve-s Guest Posts: n/a	LOL.. chill! You where asking about pH, not alkalinity. You cannot control the pH by increasing the alk anyway. All alkalinity does is help keep pH stable. Buffers are used for alkainity when needed, of course. 2.86 mE/ql alk is not bad at all. 3.0-3.25 is actually the highest it needs to be, 3.5 is excessive. To get from 2.86 to 3.0, you'll need about 1/8th of a teaspoon if that. http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html Cheers Steve

04-10-2006, 07:22 PM	#17
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	Wow! That calculator is Awesome!!! Thanks!