Raising pH

[harmanrk]

The pH of my tank is stable, but is just around 7.8. I have been adding a Reef Buffer, that is supposed to Raise the ph to 8.3, and also raise the Alk, to help buffer the pH. This does not seem to be having an effect. Can anyone recomend anything that will help raise the pH?

Robert

[graphixx]

I would stick with the reef buffer. I have used that in the past and it worked well for me. good luck :D

[Guido]

I think I have read somewhere you can use baking soda... but I wouldn't try it unless someone else has and said it works.

[graphixx]

yes that is correct but if reef buffer is not raising it then I would not try baking soda. you can put some Joe's Juice in your tank. I know everytime I dose my tank with Joe's juice my PH raises from 8.2 to 8.5 but it only lasts for about a day and then goes right back down. Also when are you reading your PH???? do you have a digital PH monitor? reason is your PH changed from night to day also.

[graphixx]

are you dosing your tank calcium at all? if not you can dose with kalkawasser and this will increase your PH and also keep calcium in your system.

[Whoyah]

Here is a link to very helpful reference tool. It is also under the reference library forum.

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

[shovelhead91701]

Whoyah is right! Bookmark the page he is linking for you! This is one of the most useful bookmarks that I have on my computer! :salute:

[graphixx]

that is a very cool page.

[dakar]

Now if some rocket scientist type will figure out what the real formula's are behind that stuff and pass it along to someone not quite so smart (me), I'll create a page here for us on CR to do the math functions.

[harmanrk]

Update:
The buffer did not seem to be having any effect, pH has just been steady at 7.8. For the last week, I have been trying Baking Soda. I have been adding about one heapingtablespoon a day, with no results. I cannot believe I am having this much diffuculty raising the pH. The water I use for top offs comes out of the tap with a pH of 10.2, so, just topping the tank off should raise the pH. Anyone have any suggestions?

Robert

[Whoyah]

I don't believe baking soda is your answer. It only raises your alkalinity, which you should probably check at this point. If you have a high alk then your pH will be more stable and less likely to change. Have yougot a 2nd set of testing done yet? It might be time to buy a different test kit our have your LFS check for you. Just a thought.

[dakar]

Have you tested your alkalinity and calcium?

The baking soda will push the alkalinity up to support higher calcium levels, and ideally is used as one half of a two part mixture, the other part would be a lime base for calcium, either pickling lime, kalkwasser, or Dowflake will work safely. They will definately give you a raise in PH, but again I can't stress enough about not adding anything that you can't test for.

[harmanrk]

Okay, Just finished running the battery of tests.
SG 1.024
Ammonia 0.25 ppm API test kit
Nitrate 0 ppm API test kit
Nitrite 0 ppm API test kit
pH 7.8 API test kit
pH 8.05 Seachem test kit
Calcium 200-250 Seachem test kit
Iodine 0 Seachem test kit
Alk 9 meq/L Seachem test kit

pH and Calcium are low, Alk is high.
What would be the recomendation to start setting it right?

Robert

[dakar]

Start to slowly raise the calcium levels up, this will also cause a rise in the pH. Easiest way would be to top off with limewater.

How are you topping off your tank now? If you are using some sort of auto topoff or just a drip, adding any of the mentioned sources of lime to the top off water will do the trick. This is how most replace the calcium that is consumed by coral and other critters. Your target range should be around 300-350ppm calcium, and Alkalinity around 11dKH. Slow and steady is the key.

[harmanrk]

Currently use tapwater treated with conditioner, to top off the tank. The tapwater here has a pH of 10.2. Will dissolving a tablespoon full of Lime in each cup of freash water used for top off work for raising the Calcium levels?

Robert

[dakar]

too much, about a tsp per gallon of pickling lime will do you. Actually that's nearing the saturation point.