PH droping at night " I can`t seem to keep it up"

[auqua man]

Hi Steve first of all It is good to see a person local to me Vancouver BC. So you can understand local issues wether, water, lfs ect....
I have a problem with ph drop at night. day up to 8.21 night as low as 7.90
I keep the kh 9-11 but it has little affect.The display is partly coverd, the 30 gal sump is not, the 3 gal refugium is open.I use kent M a&b almost daily.I am out of ideas can you help please.
Scott

 

[ronj]

i open my canopy and the doors on my stand at night for better gas exchange..the lights are off at night, so it doesn't hurt anything to open up the canopy

 

[Skimmy]

dose kalkwasser at night via auto top off or drip line

 

[Krish]

Also, if you have a macro algae in your refugium, just run the photo period during the night hours so that photosynthesis could continue and keep the ph up. That's what some people do to prevent big ph fluctuations when their tank lights are off. Just a thought...

 

[mfinn]

Also, if you have a macro algae in your refugium, just run the photo period during the night hours so that photosynthesis could continue and keep the ph up. That's what some people do to prevent big ph fluctuations when their tank lights are off. Just a thought...

I agree with this method. It also seems to be the simplest method because you don't have to do anything except set a timer.

 

[auqua man]

Also, if you have a macro algae in your refugium, just run the photo period during the night hours so that photosynthesis could continue and keep the ph up. That's what some people do to prevent big ph fluctuations when their tank lights are off. Just a thought...

I have a small CPR refugium 2 gal do you think this would have any effect on the ph or is it to small?

 

[auqua man]

i open my canopy and the doors on my stand at night for better gas exchange..the lights are off at night, so it doesn't hurt anything to open up the canopy

Good point I will start tonight.

 

[Krish]

I have a small CPR refugium 2 gal do you think this would have any effect on the ph or is it to small?

Not sure...I guess you'd have to give it a shot and do a reading. Once photosynthesis is taking place, it should help

 

[auqua man]

Not sure...I guess you'd have to give it a shot and do a reading. Once photosynthesis is taking place, it should help

Thanks Krish I will give it a shot tonight.Thanks to you and others here my tank has improved greatly over the last month. I did not have any friends that were into salt water reefs before and now I have several thanks to RF.Krish I am thinking of getting a cal reactor for boxing day sales this year do you have any sudjestions so I only buy once.

 

[Krish]

LOL!...Never used one before. I've only ever used the B-Ionic 2 part supplement and that's it. It will probably be best you start a new thread so you can get great feedback on it. Good luck

 

[steve-s]

On a 110, a small CPR is not going to do much but it will help. If you could convert part of your sump to hold some Chaetomorpha, that would be a big plus. It would also make it easier on you since it will not light up the room. It's odd the Kent does not help much, it's usually pretty pH heavy.

Do you have many gas appliances?

 

[auqua man]

On a 110, a small CPR is not going to do much but it will help. If you could convert part of your sump to hold some Chaetomorpha, that would be a big plus. It would also make it easier on you since it will not light up the room. It's odd the Kent does not help much, it's usually pretty pH heavy.

Do you have many gas appliances?

No gas appliances except furnace. I have put a 12 gal ref. on the tank insted of the cpr. lights stay on at night. I have low mag levels 1170 ppm but I am trying to bring it up slowly now. When I add buffer in the morning it clouds up and turns to snow and floats around the tank I am thinking the low Mag. levels are causing this.Last night the PH droped to 7.97 and today it is up to 8.12. I also started to crack the window a little to let the fresh air in but this has not helped much. I hope the 12 gal refugium, 48 gal per hour flow, I have added will help some.

 

[Aquatic Guru]

Also, if you have a macro algae in your refugium, just run the photo period during the night hours so that photosynthesis could continue and keep the ph up. That's what some people do to prevent big ph fluctuations when their tank lights are off. Just a thought...

That's what I do also and it works well.

 

[steve-s]

I have low mag levels 1170 ppm but I am trying to bring it up slowly now.

This is not low enough to inhibit proper balance between alk/Ca. Good idea to raise it but not part of your problem.

When I add buffer in the morning it clouds up and turns to snow and floats around the tank

What are you using as a buffer, how are you adding it, what salinity do you maintain and what is your Ca level?

Also, be sure you buy a Ca reactor that has a dual chamber if you end up getting one. If you don't allow the pH of the effluent to come up/gas off CO2 before entering the tank, you'll just add to your problems.

 

[auqua man]

This is not low enough to inhibit proper balance between alk/Ca. Good idea to raise it but not part of your problem.


What are you using as a buffer, how are you adding it, what salinity do you maintain and what is your Ca level?

Also, be sure you buy a Ca reactor that has a dual chamber if you end up getting one. If you don't allow the pH of the effluent to come up/gas off CO2 before entering the tank, you'll just add to your problems.

I am using Kent Marine A&B 30 ml I add it to the main tank in the morning in a high flow area. Salinity is maintained at 56.7-57.0 I just tested ca level 480:shock: a bit high today it is normaly 390-425. Last nite the ph was 7.97 and now today it is 8.19.I probably did not need to add a&b this morning oops.Thanks for the tip on cal reactor. I would like to do some homework on cal reactors as I know very little about them, do you have any sudjestions? PS I understand this is probably the wrong forum for these questions but thanks for all the great info.

 

[steve-s]

Are there any solids in the Part B of the Kent liquid? Are you using tap water to fill new ones?

Have you done the pH test I suggested?