low ph????

[gotsalt]

i have a 4 month old 24 gal nano filled with ro water and my ph is allway low (7.9-8.0). when i make the water i add buffer to the rite ph and then add to the tank. the ph rises but then it falls. The kh is a little high (11-12) due to over buffering. calcium is 500-550 and nitrate levels are allways low. i tryed big water changes to get the other levels closer to ideal but had to add buffer to get the ph and the cycle repeats. what am i doing wrong????????
the lid is open and the power head is pointed up to ripple the the top water

 

[24aqua]

do you buffer your ro water and your top off water?do you wait 24hrs and check your ph level buffering will rise yor alk i had that problem never checked ph from lfs ro,what salt do you use?

 

[zjhoward]

I have the exact same problem in my 6 gallon tank. I think first of all, I would try lowering your calcium to around ~450. That may help a good bit... Also, do you use a two part reef system? Usually like an alkilinity buffer and then a calcium additive? My lfs said that the alkilinity buffers that come in two part systems are only really good at keeping pH stable. They suggested that I stop using the 2 part system alkilinity buffer and try to raise my pH with something like Seachem Buffer, then use alk buffer to keep it constant.
Basically, I was told to: Continue using my calcium additive, but stop using the alkilinity supplement until I got my pH up to where I wanted it with Seachem Buffer. Once I got the pH high enough, I was told to wait a day or two before starting back with the alkilinity buffer or else it would counteract my pH corrections. They said I would have to do this every 3 or so weeks.

 

[gotsalt]

I buffer made water but don’t buffer my top off but the ph I at 8. I f buffer the top off water then I am just adding more alk. I used red sea salt coal pro and tried reef crystals but ph still low. Yes I wait 24 hours
I used the two part system but was also told to stop using it for ph reasons. I used two different buffers but have been using a marine buffer for 3 weeks. I don’t use a calcium additive. So the level is hard to lower . what kind of buffer did you use to correct you ph problem.
By the way I have a bubble rock in the back by the pump. I asked this question before and was told I had stale air but I don’t think so

 

[gotsalt]

I buffer made water but don’t buffer my top off but the ph I at 8. I f buffer the top off water then I am just adding more alk. I used red sea salt coal pro and tried reef crystals but ph still low. Yes I wait 24 hours
I used the two part system but was also told to stop using it for ph reasons. I used two different buffers but have been using a marine buffer for 3 weeks. I don’t use a calcium additive. So the level is hard to lower . what kind of buffer did you use to correct you ph problem.
By the way I have a bubble rock in the back by the pump. I asked this question before and was told I had stale air but I don’t think so

 

[zjhoward]

I'm using seachem reef buffer, but so far I am not having any luck. My alkilinity is way off, but the pH is still low.

 

[zjhoward]

Ok, here's my situation... I've been on the buffer regiment, with no luck; my pH is still low. I think I am going to stop doing that and try to work on getting my alkilinity back down. I am betting I need better surface aggitation and flow.

 

[gotsalt]

we are in the same boat i see. tryed the same thing but the cycle just goes on and on there is a reason for the ph drop off and we are not going to have any luck untill we find out way. better surface aggitation and flow will help for sure but will not totaly fix the problem if i had to guess. how low is low? mine is at 7.8-7.9 most of the time.
i am sure others have had this problem so come on people how do you stablise your ph in your nanoes. tell us your salt buffer comboes any trickes help us :help:
my tank lookes ok but has no really taken off. are the low ph and a high alk levels to blame.