Help w/PH

pkgrif

Member
Hi All
My first time to post here. I have been reading and learning. My last experience with saltwater was over 30 years ago...The changes since then are incredible. But this old dog can be taught new tricks and I am loving it. It was near impossible to keep small tanks back then. So here's to my problem.
I have allowed my son to set up his 10 gallon (he is Joe Scienist) with my supervision as a nano reef tank. It has been 3 months and everything is looking and going well except I have been unable to get the PH up to where I want it. It hangs between 8 and 8.2 (usually on the lower side) It is my understanding that it should be closer to 8.4 and have been instructed by my local LFS to use a buffer. The instructions reads to add every day until the correct PH level is reached, which I have been doing for almost two weeks now, but the PH is remaining the same range. The Alkalinity is also around 9 which it is my understanding should be around 11? How long do I continue and how does this impact my cal. levels? I seem to get conflicting statements from the LFS
about whether it does or doesn't. It is KePRo Buffer dKH.
We have been getting good coraline growth already and the umbrella coral has two small ones now on it's rock.
I have found you guys to be very informational, so I hope you'all can help.
Thanks
 

carshark

Active Member
your levels are a tad low but nothing to jump about... lower in the 8's as PH goes leave it alone. just continue your weekly water changes and it should adjust itself, also i suppose you can add the buffer but i dont really see the neccessity, because the water changes whould replenish and keep it stable...as far as your alk. it will come up over time, youre still ok at around the 8-12 range so no worry there...also test your calcium if it is low add a calcium buffer.
 

bang guy

Moderator
A PH anywhere between 8.0 - 8.5 is perfect. Do'nt be chasing numbers or you're going to cause problems.
I'm thinking the buffer you have added has already caused a problem but it's not too serious yet.
Adding buffer day after day is eventually going to cause Calcium to precipitate and this will actually make your PH worse.
My suggestion is to do 25% water changes every other day for a week. This may sound drastic but it will restore the balance between Magnesium, Calcium, and Alkalinity. Your ALK of 9.0dKH is fine by the way but you should pick up a calcium test kit.
Do you have any pictures of your son's Nano reef? I would be interested in seeing it. Here's a picture of the 10 gallon nano I started earlier this year:
 

pkgrif

Member
Thanks for the tips, I will follow your advice and let you know.
I don't have any pictures yet, but I probably should, to see how it progesses. I am making him take slow. Right now we just have a firefish, the purple umbrella that are intentional and a few hitchhikers, zoo, tiny featherdusters, and most interestly two hard corals (a pearl bubble and I think a candy cane) that were in the live rock tank that we thought were neat shapes (according to the lfs person they were just bones) that have turned out to be very much alive and doing well. Just don't know what to do with them.
You tank is beautiful...
Once again "Thanks"
 
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