Need help getting pH up!!! - Aquarium Advice

L2 · 04-10-2006, 07:35 AM

I have a JBJ 12 gallon Nano Cube and the tank has been up and running for 36 days now. I have three very small fish and some coral. Live rock and sand. Lots of water movemenet - 230 GPH from the return pump and 100 GPH from the power head inside the tank for additional current. No Amonia or NO2 or NO3. The water is crystal clear BUT I've always had a low and very stable pH of 7.9, if not 7.8 even.

Yesterday, under the advice of the marine aquarium store I go to I tried using Scheme's Marine Buffer 8.3. It boosted the pH to 8.3 instantly. And the fish seemed to be swimming around more. Though this morning my I tested the pH again and it went right back down again to 7.9.

Anyhow, I use Tropic Marine seasalt and I do 10-20% water changes every week. And I do have some water aggitation at the top of the tank. I even have a tiny nano protein skimmer that gets a lot of air into the water.

How can I safely get my pH up and stable above 7.9? Thoughts? Advice? Should I continue to use Marine Buffer or? What do you guys use?

Also, I tested my Alk this morning at it was 2.86. The guys at the store say it should be at 3.5. How do you get Alk up?

tecwzrd · 04-10-2006, 09:58 AM

Any ph changes should be done slowly over days! Never instantly since doing so can cause a lot of stress/death to your fish/inverts.

Your ph of 7.8 is not drastically low for SW. Fish/inverts will do fine at that ph and since your tank is new it will take time to balance out.

What is the ph/sg of your newly mixed salt water? Are you mixing your saltwater for 24+ hours and bringing up to the temp/sg/ph of the main tank?

Seachem Marine Buffer is a good product that I have used as well. To increase your ph only add it to your PWC water so the increase is gradual and over the course of 4+ weeks.

L2 · 04-10-2006, 10:45 AM

My SG is at 1.025.

I am mixing my saltwater for 24+ hours before doing my PWC.

About the Seachem Marine Buffer though. My pH was at 7.9/8.0. Then I did a PWC and put in less than half a teaspoon of Marine Buffer (as per their directions)... After the PWC my pH was instally 8.3. Then this morning I did another pH test and my pH was 7.9.

Anyhow, I know Seachem recommends you continue to use the product DAILY until the pH stabalizes at 8.3 but ummmmmm isn't it bad for the pH to be going up and down daily until it stabalizes? It sort of freaked me out.

Should I just leave the tank alone and let it be at 7.9 or continue to use the buffer?

And lastly... What about my Alk? It's at 2.86... Isn't that low? How do I get that up?

tecwzrd · 04-10-2006, 11:11 AM

Best to leave your ph where it is now and let it balance out over time. I would never use a buffer daily do to the risk of it messing with alk/ph to drastically and possibly crashing. At the most I’d use it once a week and only add it to the PWC water when mixing if needed at all.

As for alk I’d read Chemistry and the Aquarium: What is Alkalinity? for a more in-depth understanding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by L2

Then this morning I did another pH test and my pH was 7.9

Your ph will always be at the highest when testing at night before you turn off the lights and at the lowest point first thing in the morning.

PH always drops slightly during the night unless you have a lighted fuge and these small drops are nothing to worry about.

L2 · 04-10-2006, 11:14 AM

Ok, so I'll leave the tank is. One last question though. Doesn't pH decline over time?

And also, should I look at Kent Marines Carbinate Hardiner 2 Part Buffer or just leave the tank as is?

I guess I'll just leave it as is. Should I get an airstone? My protein skimmer pumps so many micro bubbles into the water already. I can't imagine it being an air problem. It does turn off at night though.

**roka64** · 04-10-2006, 11:16 AM

I maybe incorrect on this, but, doesn't the tank take a little while to circulate the PH and stabalize? That might be why the Ph is 8.3 when you first put it in and then lowers as it filters through the rest of the system.....(depending when you measure it)...

I do have a question, some one asked my once if I measured my Ph at night or in the morning....should there be a difference?

tecwzrd · 04-10-2006, 11:17 AM

I would just keep up with your PWC each week. Most additives will end up hurting more then helping. Air stones are useless in SW tank. Have you tried using a bubble trap or sponge to reduce the air bubbles from the skimmer?

tecwzrd · 04-10-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roka64

I do have a question, some one asked my once if I measured my Ph at night or in the morning....should there be a difference?

Your ph will always be at the highest when testing at night before you turn off the lights and at the lowest point first thing in the morning.

PH always drops slightly during the night unless you have a lighted fuge and these small drops are nothing to worry about.

L2 · 04-10-2006, 11:29 AM

thank you tecwzrd!!!

ai yai yai

fish drama

my little babies

LOL

jasno999 · 04-10-2006, 01:04 PM

Odd can you test the water before you add it to your tank??? Try testign the SW mix that you add to the tank to see what it measures at.

I would also suggest addign crushed coral or some type of substrate that can go along with the sand in yoru tank to help keep PH high. I have crushed coral and sand in my tank and I really think it helps keep my PH and ALk levels good. I can't say my Alk levels are good for sure cause I don't test for them but my PH is fine.

04-10-2006, 07:35 AM	#1
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	Need help getting pH up!!! I have a JBJ 12 gallon Nano Cube and the tank has been up and running for 36 days now. I have three very small fish and some coral. Live rock and sand. Lots of water movemenet - 230 GPH from the return pump and 100 GPH from the power head inside the tank for additional current. No Amonia or NO2 or NO3. The water is crystal clear BUT I've always had a low and very stable pH of 7.9, if not 7.8 even. Yesterday, under the advice of the marine aquarium store I go to I tried using Scheme's Marine Buffer 8.3. It boosted the pH to 8.3 instantly. And the fish seemed to be swimming around more. Though this morning my I tested the pH again and it went right back down again to 7.9. Anyhow, I use Tropic Marine seasalt and I do 10-20% water changes every week. And I do have some water aggitation at the top of the tank. I even have a tiny nano protein skimmer that gets a lot of air into the water. How can I safely get my pH up and stable above 7.9? Thoughts? Advice? Should I continue to use Marine Buffer or? What do you guys use? Also, I tested my Alk this morning at it was 2.86. The guys at the store say it should be at 3.5. How do you get Alk up?

04-10-2006, 11:16 AM	#6
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,985 Images: 12	I maybe incorrect on this, but, doesn't the tank take a little while to circulate the PH and stabalize? That might be why the Ph is 8.3 when you first put it in and then lowers as it filters through the rest of the system.....(depending when you measure it)... I do have a question, some one asked my once if I measured my Ph at night or in the morning....should there be a difference? __________________ Age is relative, you are only as old as you act....of course, this works in reverse.... Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

04-10-2006, 11:17 AM	#7
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	I would just keep up with your PWC each week. Most additives will end up hurting more then helping. Air stones are useless in SW tank. Have you tried using a bubble trap or sponge to reduce the air bubbles from the skimmer? __________________ -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, 09:58 AM	#2
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	Any ph changes should be done slowly over days! Never instantly since doing so can cause a lot of stress/death to your fish/inverts. Your ph of 7.8 is not drastically low for SW. Fish/inverts will do fine at that ph and since your tank is new it will take time to balance out. What is the ph/sg of your newly mixed salt water? Are you mixing your saltwater for 24+ hours and bringing up to the temp/sg/ph of the main tank? Seachem Marine Buffer is a good product that I have used as well. To increase your ph only add it to your PWC water so the increase is gradual and over the course of 4+ weeks.

04-10-2006, 10:45 AM	#3
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	My SG is at 1.025. I am mixing my saltwater for 24+ hours before doing my PWC. About the Seachem Marine Buffer though. My pH was at 7.9/8.0. Then I did a PWC and put in less than half a teaspoon of Marine Buffer (as per their directions)... After the PWC my pH was instally 8.3. Then this morning I did another pH test and my pH was 7.9. Anyhow, I know Seachem recommends you continue to use the product DAILY until the pH stabalizes at 8.3 but ummmmmm isn't it bad for the pH to be going up and down daily until it stabalizes? It sort of freaked me out. Should I just leave the tank alone and let it be at 7.9 or continue to use the buffer? And lastly... What about my Alk? It's at 2.86... Isn't that low? How do I get that up?

04-10-2006, 11:14 AM	#5
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	Ok, so I'll leave the tank is. One last question though. Doesn't pH decline over time? And also, should I look at Kent Marines Carbinate Hardiner 2 Part Buffer or just leave the tank as is? I guess I'll just leave it as is. Should I get an airstone? My protein skimmer pumps so many micro bubbles into the water already. I can't imagine it being an air problem. It does turn off at night though.

04-10-2006, 11:29 AM	#9
L2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Images: 1	thank you tecwzrd!!! ai yai yai fish drama my little babies LOL

04-10-2006, 01:04 PM	#10
jasno999 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: King of Prussia, PA Posts: 527	Odd can you test the water before you add it to your tank??? Try testign the SW mix that you add to the tank to see what it measures at. I would also suggest addign crushed coral or some type of substrate that can go along with the sand in yoru tank to help keep PH high. I have crushed coral and sand in my tank and I really think it helps keep my PH and ALk levels good. I can't say my Alk levels are good for sure cause I don't test for them but my PH is fine.