gmann1139
Active Member
My 12g Nanocube has consistently had a low pH since I set it up. It averages out to 8.1 over the last year.
This is the only reason I have not yet gone reef with this tank, which is why I'm posting here. I've tried to figure this one out myself, but I've come up empty.
Other parameters are normal. Alk is low but ok at 2.5 mEq/L, ammonia and nitrite are 0 (of course), nitrate is <10, temp is 80 - 81, and sg is 1.026. My low pH is the only thing out of line.
I have noticed that in my other tanks, that I fill with the same mix of water, alk is 3.5, and pH is in the 8.2 - 8.5 range, which means its something peculiar to this tank. I use -- mixed with RO water, which is also used to fill a 30g DT and a 10g QT.
For filtration, I have the stock sponge and carbon, along with a pound or two of LR rubble in a bag. I replaced the stock PH with a MJ600, which I clean out monthly.
I also built a DIY fuge that I filled with chaeto, and have a 50/50 13W CF light shining on the 18 hours my tank lights aren't on. The chaeto has been in there 9 months, but I have never trimmed it.
I have had slow but steady coraline growth, and have allowed it to take over most of the LR as well as the back wall.
The only thing I can think of is that my SB is too deep. I just measured it, and it is 1.5" to 2" deep across the tank. The substrate is fairly coarse, but I only have 1 Giant Nass snail in there to stir it up.
Removing an inch of substrate is not a minor undertaking though, so before I go for it, I want to make sure that's a likely reason.
Other than the sandbed, any other ideas?
This is the only reason I have not yet gone reef with this tank, which is why I'm posting here. I've tried to figure this one out myself, but I've come up empty.
Other parameters are normal. Alk is low but ok at 2.5 mEq/L, ammonia and nitrite are 0 (of course), nitrate is <10, temp is 80 - 81, and sg is 1.026. My low pH is the only thing out of line.
I have noticed that in my other tanks, that I fill with the same mix of water, alk is 3.5, and pH is in the 8.2 - 8.5 range, which means its something peculiar to this tank. I use -- mixed with RO water, which is also used to fill a 30g DT and a 10g QT.
For filtration, I have the stock sponge and carbon, along with a pound or two of LR rubble in a bag. I replaced the stock PH with a MJ600, which I clean out monthly.
I also built a DIY fuge that I filled with chaeto, and have a 50/50 13W CF light shining on the 18 hours my tank lights aren't on. The chaeto has been in there 9 months, but I have never trimmed it.
I have had slow but steady coraline growth, and have allowed it to take over most of the LR as well as the back wall.
The only thing I can think of is that my SB is too deep. I just measured it, and it is 1.5" to 2" deep across the tank. The substrate is fairly coarse, but I only have 1 Giant Nass snail in there to stir it up.
Removing an inch of substrate is not a minor undertaking though, so before I go for it, I want to make sure that's a likely reason.
Other than the sandbed, any other ideas?
