Ok, I've been trying to maintain a pH of around 8.2 in my tank for a while now (based on the datasheets I've read all of the fish I have like 8.1 to 8.4 range) but I just can't get it up. I tried 2 different "pH Up" products, the first one worked for about 8 hours, and now I have "Marine Buffer" stuff, but the pH keeps resetting every day to about 8.05.
I have a 2L plastic bottle (thoroughly washed) that I poked a small hole in the bottom so I can drip the solution slowly into the tank over the period of about 3 hours. I mix the recommended amount, and according to my digital meter the pH goes up to a nice 8.24, but within about 12 hours it's back down to 8.05.
I've got a 75 gallon tank with 95 lbs of rock (65lbs of fiji, 30 of spiderwick) and 80lbs of "live sand". Ammonia and Nitrites are negligable, Nitrates are fine too. Carbinate hardness is 250 (14dKh), General Hardness is about 350. Salinity is 1.023.
The fish don't seem to care, but I'd like it to be at least 8.2. Does it really matter? Is the hardness too high? If I keep dousing the tank will it eventually get higher? Is it bad to keep exposing the fish to pH changes like this every day? Is there a better way to raise the pH?
Thanks! (I did search but didn't find anything terribly useful)
I have a 2L plastic bottle (thoroughly washed) that I poked a small hole in the bottom so I can drip the solution slowly into the tank over the period of about 3 hours. I mix the recommended amount, and according to my digital meter the pH goes up to a nice 8.24, but within about 12 hours it's back down to 8.05.
I've got a 75 gallon tank with 95 lbs of rock (65lbs of fiji, 30 of spiderwick) and 80lbs of "live sand". Ammonia and Nitrites are negligable, Nitrates are fine too. Carbinate hardness is 250 (14dKh), General Hardness is about 350. Salinity is 1.023.
The fish don't seem to care, but I'd like it to be at least 8.2. Does it really matter? Is the hardness too high? If I keep dousing the tank will it eventually get higher? Is it bad to keep exposing the fish to pH changes like this every day? Is there a better way to raise the pH?
Thanks! (I did search but didn't find anything terribly useful)
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