Spiking My Top Off?

[dlhirst]

I have always struggled witk low pH in my tanks. One thing occurred to me the other day as I was topping off my water - I was adding neutral water to the tank. Certainly this will drag down my pH. So now I am thinking of adding buffer to my top off water, maybe trying to raise it to 8.4? Where is my thinking gonna fall?

[Chris]

What is your pH at now, and how do you test to get that #? Do you do anything currently to try to raise the intank pH? Is there anything that is really concerning/ seems like you REALLY need to raise your pH other then that it isn't where it "should" be??

Also, what size tank do you have, how do u top off, and how much roughly do you top off per day, odds are good the little your topping off isnt even making much of a difference (I top off 4-5g per day in my 180 and it doesnt even register a change when I litterally dump the water into my sump within a foot of where I have my pH probe).

I've always had fairly higher pH (like right now it is at 8.65 w/ lights off), yet I don't see anything to be concerned about and everything looks happy.... so I don't mess with it

On paper raising it seems like a good thought, but if theres no issues other then it not being where it "should be", off paper could cause more problems then its worth... sometimes the ol' if it aint broke don't fix it can definitely relate to reef keeping!

[dlhirst]

When I test it at the end of a light cycle, it can be as low as 7.7, after a dark cycle, I have recorded 7.5 at times. I use an API test kit. I strive for 8.2, but can not seem to keep it there. Whenever I visit a LFS, I have them test it as well. Always, the comment is the same - low pH.
I don't see anything suffering, per se; but I am not knowledgeable enough to say whether or not things are truly "thriving". Though, I'd like to think so! I have been told that a higher pH will help to keep my Ca levels higher, too.

[Chris]

Well, if u do try to increase the pH, do so slowly, and watch everything. If your not having problems tho, I wouldn't be to concerned with it personally. What does your Ca levels come in at? I can't remember right now but I think pH and alk are more related, although alk and Ca effect eachother, so atleast indirectly they would effect eachother.... so yeah, what is your alk coming in at as well??

Also, are you dosing anything.... vodka/ vinegar/ etc.?

Not sure how long your system has been up, but if it has been through a summer.... do you have this issue during the months when the house isnt always closed up? I have heard of lower pH being quite common during the months the house doesnt get the fresh air from being opened up on nice days, just trying to see if maybe we can find the cause to the low pH issue as well.