pH ?

[ReefWife]

My pH was 7.7 today after the lights had been on for about 6 hours on our 75gallon tank. I did a 10 gallon water change with water that had a pH of 8.1. My ALK/DKH were 6.4/2.29. I have heard of using baking soda to raise pH. Should I do this, if so how much should I use per gallon?

 

[returnofsid]

PM Sent. Give it a day or so. Sometimes Boomer skips a few days before posting...lol. Once he does, consider his advice Gospel!!!

 

[Boomer]

No, do not use baking soda to raise the pH as it will do more harm and has a tendency to lower pH.

How are you measuring the pH, with a meter I'll take it ? Clean the probe re-cal and try it again. Let it soak in vinegar for a few hrs and then rinse well in RO/DO to be sure it is not the probe.


What is the temp over there today, rather cool and all the window and doors are closed up for winter correct ? You may need need a Kalk drip or Sodium Hydroxide drip to kill that indoor CO2 that is getting in the water. I'll bet it you opened the windows for a couple hrs the pH will go right back up.

 

[returnofsid]

Boomer, she has more information, on a similar thread, before it was suggested she post here. She did have the pH double checked, by a LFS. Here's her other link, in case it has more information that will help you help her...
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49603

 

[sandswhitson]

The PH was checked with a PH probe that was calibrated just moments before checking. It was also checked with a two different test kits and they all read between 7.5 and 7.8 The windows were open today and PH is still only 7.9 with lights ON. We just purchased a dehumidifier a couple of weeks ago and have been running that pretty steady as our windows are running water most of the time. Could that have something to do with it?

 

[Boomer]

But opening up the window has helped allot the pH went from 7.5 ==> 7.8 ==> 7.9. So, it is a high indoor CO2. Did this issue only start after the dehumid was turned on ? What you really need is an air exchanger, HAVAC.

 

[Boomer]

Is that CA reactor back on as that will just make it worse not better as they are famous for giving low pH, unless it is a dual stage reactor.

 

[sandswhitson]

We have had the reactor for a long time. I honestly don't remember the last time we checked PH so I can't say if it started after the dehumidifier. PH has only increased two points with the windows open and that isn't a viable option as it is getting cold. The 7.5 reading was a LFS test. My wife checked the PH yesterday with a handheld meter and got a reading of 7.7 later she tested and it was at 7.8 so the windows didn't help much. Any other suggestions?

 

[Boomer]

Yes, the widows did help ,as 2 points is a good indication of high room air CO2. If were were left open longer or there was a fan blowing air across that tank and out the windows it would have gotten higher. Once you close those windows the pH is going to go down again. You more than likely are going to need a kalk or Sodium Hydroxide drip if you can't get rid of that high room air CO2.

 

[returnofsid]

Scott, what's the possibility of venting to the outside, even if it's just an airline tubing, from Skimmer to outside?

 

[Boomer]

Scott, you may want to call Jim at theflterguys. I just got done helping him putting together a pH booster unit which looks like a DI cartridge and is filled with a high capacity CO2 adsorption media. This will boos the pH up .2 -.3 pH units. The unit is attached to the air going int the skimmer.

The first post on it today

I got my filterguys package and tried out the scrubber/media and now I am exactly where I want to be.
Before daily high/low: 7.7 to 8.25 (I did run an airline from skimmer intake to window)
After CO2 media added high/low: 7.8 to 8.35 Yay! (just CO2 scrubber, no more airline to the window )
And with the refillable cartridge the media only cost me $10 per refill

It is under "Skimmer media"

http://thefilterguys.biz/skimmer_media.htm