Extreme pH problems -- please help!

rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
I've been having extreme problems with my pH, and they're getting worse. It started off as small swings in pH (.2-.3 per day), but now my pH is spiraling downward, and I can't stop it. My tank was at 8.2 on Fri. By monday, it had dropped to 6.7! What do I do? As soon as I stop dosing it with buffer, my pH drops again. Seems like it should be a little more stable than that. Any suggestions?
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
It's also killed a sixline wrasse and caused some coral die-off as well. What can I do to help my ailing corals?
 
laddy

laddy

Active Member
When are you taking your PH readings...at the same time, or different times of the day?
How often are you doing water changes?
How much buffer are you dosing?
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
same time every day, late afternoon
water changes 25% every 3 weeks
I dose what it says on the bottle -- 1-2 measures per 4 gals of water
I'm using Seachem Marine Buffer, if that makes a difference, and then when my carbon hardness gets back up, I'll start using Seachem's Reef Buffer.
 
db

db

Member
I've found the best way to keep a stable PH is buy using a system to raise your ca and alk and then dripping kalk to maintain. I personally use the B-Ionic, but there are other choices out there. The Kalk does a great job of keeping your PH up and your CA and Alk balanced. Are you using anything to raise your CA? The buffer alone is going to create an imbalance.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Definitely MUST know your alkalinity and calcium readings.
Have you changed anything else recently in terms of circulation, salt brand, glass tops?
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
Haha...yeah, I've changed quite a bit, and it was all at once. I changed from an undergravel filter to an Emperor 280 bio-wheel filter. I also changed from CC to LS, and then 24 hours later, changed from 15-watt flourescent lighting to 65-watt PC lights. Think that might be what did it? My LFS said it would be ok, as long as I was keeping an eye on my levels.
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
oh, yeah, and I am using a calcium supplement twice a week, as well as a "concentrated vitamin and amino acid supplemt." <-- That stuff smells like beef.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Definitely need to know that alkalinity level - and calcium, never add anything if you aren't testing for it. You could have a problem there.
Do you have any powerheads in the tank? You could have had enough of a change in circulation to cause issues.
I would say it was much too soon to add any new lifestock. That was a bad sale on the part of the LFS if they knew you did all this and then sold you a fish! That is a huge change, and subject to "recycling" the tank.
So you have normal ammonia and nitrite readings?
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
A small amount of nitrites, but not a lot higher than normal. I made all these changes about 2 weeks ago...would my tank still be recycling? Nothing else has died, I've got a false perc and a blue and gold damsel.
Yes, I have a powerhead plus my filter.
I've also noticed a spike in algae growth on my glass; will this likely die back after my pH is back in balance?
 
laddy

laddy

Active Member
ophiura, good point--more water circulation, especially at the surface facilitating Co2 exchange can effect Ph.
Also....what size of tank are we talking about? If I had to guess, you probably have elevated Ca levels and low Alk levels causing your drop in ph. But only an educated guess.
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
it's only a 20 gal. I'd say I have excellent surface water flow. But, then, I don't have anything to base that on.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Do you have an airstone?
If you take a water sample, aerate it overnight if possible...but at least several hours, then test the pH. If your pH goes up, then you might have a gas exchange issue (do you have glass tops?). But I am also REAL suspicious of your alkalinity/calcium levels right now.
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
wow, so after attempting to read all of that posting (I got about 3/4 of the way throught and got really bored), I now know that I need to aerate my tank more. I forgot to post that I took the venturi off my powerhead when I changed away from the UG filter...should I put it back on? My tank now has the lid open. I'll leave it that way until I go to bed. Also, what differency would it make whether or not I have a glass top? To answer that, yes, I do.
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
btw, I getting a test kit tomorrow. I'll post the numbers then. I've been taking my water to my LFS to have it tested, so I don't know the actual numbers for everything.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I do not recommend adding the venturi back to your powerhead. You really don't want a lot of bubbles, you want circulation and surface aggitation.
Glass tops tend to not allow as much gas exchange as open top tanks or those with egggrate covering the top.
 
rob_ou

rob_ou

Member
I left my top off my tank for two hours last night, and my pH went up. Not a lot, but a little. I'm now sitting at about 7.5. I'm leaving the lid open for a while today.
I didn't realize it was ok to leave a tank without a top on it. I haven't observed any kind of jumping behavior in my fish, but I didn't want to take the risk. How many people run open top tanks, and how often do they have problems with suicidal fish?
 
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