Never to Old to Learn Something

mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
I was doing my monthly water test and found that my PH was at 7.6, did all other test and they were all within parms. So I checked my top off water found it to be at 7.4, found the problem. I needed to start raising my PH (slowly) the PH buffer bottle said 1 tsp for 40gal raises PH by .5, so having 20gal I add 1/2 tsp it raised it 3 points, now my hammers and plates have shrunk inside them selves. So I started making a batch of water to do a water change, (just because I tested the PH) the new salt mixed water PH was at 7.6, found another problem. So my tip is to check PH of your top off water and your new mixed water and to add way less than recommended by manufactures (it is easier to add more than to take out). My corals will contest to that.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
I was actually just thinking baout this. I want to start raising my calcium and PH in my tank, specifically my PH. If I do this through my top off water can I test my top off water with my PH test kit for the tank (saltwater) or do I need to buy another PH kit?
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
Why would my ph drop or be low aftwe wc? i use brightwell aquatics neomarine salt. could my tap/ro water be low from the get go?
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Yes your RO water is lower than needed and the PH buffer that is in mix isn't enough to compensate for it. Or the batch of mix changed from last batch, which what probably happen to me, I just open a new bag of mix. Test your RO water.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
IMHO your pH is low because of the conditions in the tank not your input water.
PH lowers as carbon dioxide increases.
So if you remove the co2 the ph will rise.
buffers will help maintain the daily drop at night, but the valued just before lights out will rise as carbon dioxide is removed.
I prefer various forms of plant life like macro algaes to accomplish that. even turf algae can do it or corraline algae as well.
my .02
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
beaslbob your up to .32 cents, don't you know there's a recession on, LOL. But if you are continuing adding top off at a lower PH and change water with incorrect PH this probably lower your PH even if you have plants and algae, which I have in my reef tank.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
If you aerate your water before topping off the tank or before you do a water change - pH will increase. Also, not using glass tops will increase the pH. I also prefer algae to increase pH, from a light over a refugium.
low pH values, to me, means there isn't enough flow across the surface of the tank.
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443330
If you aerate your water before topping off the tank keep top off water in gallon jugs next to sump for the heat or before you do a water change I have a air pump to mix water change - pH will increase. Also, not using glass tops will increase the pH No top on tank. I also prefer algae tank full of algea (all my snails are gone) and have plants to increase pH, from a light over a refugium no refug.
low pH values, to me, means there isn't enough flow across the surface of the tank have a power head pushing surface water (like shimmer from LED).
I was using christmas colors LOL.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443323
beaslbob your up to .32 cents, don't you know there's a recession on, LOL. But if you are continuing adding top off at a lower PH and change water with incorrect PH this probably lower your PH even if you have plants and algae, which I have in my reef tank.
LOL
editing
later edit.
gee shouldn't the your above be you're. You don't want to post like me now.
lol
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member

beaslbob your up to .32 cents, don't you know there's a recession on, LOL. But if you are continuing adding top off at a lower PH and change water with incorrect PH this probably lower your PH even if you have plants and algae, which I have in my reef tank.
You do not need to test the pH of The top off water or water that was freshly mixed. You need to test the tank water the next day after adding the top off or new mix....
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443323
beaslbob your up to .32 cents, don't you know there's a recession on, LOL. But if you are continuing adding top off at a lower PH and change water with incorrect PH this probably lower your PH even if you have plants and algae, which I have in my reef tank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJ http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443600
You do not need to test the pH of The top off water or water that was freshly mixed. You need to test the tank water the next day after adding the top off or new mix....
+1. Adding filtered topoff water that has a lower PH will actually not lower the aquarium PH at all.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443727
I need an explanation on this one. Not understanding how adding low PH fresh water doesn't lower PH in your tank?
I can't come up with a good analogy so I'll use balloons. Let's say we have a monster sized bag that hovers in the air when PH is neutral. Balloons that rise raise PH and ballons that sink lower PH and balloons that hover have no effect. If the bag is empty it just hovers going neither up or down just like pure water has a PH of 7 (neutral). Add a bunch of balloons that are neutral (neither sink not rise). No effect on the bag right? Add one sinking balloon and the bag will sink a little lowering the PH. This is why a lot of people think low PH freshwater will affect a saltwater tank.
Now, fill the bag with 50,000 balloons that sink and 100,000 balloons that float. The bag rises a little bit, let's say to a PH of 8.0. Now, how much affect would you see if you added 1 neutral balloon to the bag? That's what happens when topoff a saltwater aquarium with pure water.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443790
I can't come up with a good analogy so I'll use balloons. Let's say we have a monster sized bag that hovers in the air when PH is neutral. Balloons that rise raise PH and ballons that sink lower PH and balloons that hover have no effect. If the bag is empty it just hovers going neither up or down just like pure water has a PH of 7 (neutral). Add a bunch of balloons that are neutral (neither sink not rise). No effect on the bag right? Add one sinking balloon and the bag will sink a little lowering the PH. This is why a lot of people think low PH freshwater will affect a saltwater tank.
Now, fill the bag with 50,000 balloons that sink and 100,000 balloons that float. The bag rises a little bit, let's say to a PH of 8.0. Now, how much affect would you see if you added 1 neutral balloon to the bag? That's what happens when topoff a saltwater aquarium with pure water.
LOL Bang
Reference my earlier post that the tank conditions itself with determine the pH.
PH is a function of the H+ and OH- ions so it would seem that some average effect would happen.
and in fact that is true.
But IMHO the overridding effect is the carbon dioxide in the water. So If you adding lower pH water and the tank removes the carbon dioxide all that has happened is the carbon dioxide is outgassed or consumed by plant life corals or algae. Hence the tank's ability to remove the carbon dioxide overrides the carbon dioxide in the new water.
my .02
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/389528/never-to-old-to-learn-something#post_3443790
I can't come up with a good analogy so I'll use balloons. Let's say we have a monster sized bag that hovers in the air when PH is neutral. Balloons that rise raise PH and ballons that sink lower PH and balloons that hover have no effect. If the bag is empty it just hovers going neither up or down just like pure water has a PH of 7 (neutral). Add a bunch of balloons that are neutral (neither sink not rise). No effect on the bag right? Add one sinking balloon and the bag will sink a little lowering the PH. This is why a lot of people think low PH freshwater will affect a saltwater tank.
Now, fill the bag with 50,000 balloons that sink and 100,000 balloons that float. The bag rises a little bit, let's say to a PH of 8.0. Now, how much affect would you see if you added 1 neutral balloon to the bag? That's what happens when topoff a saltwater aquarium with pure water.
I understand that analogy. Thanks so in the short of it do not add buffers to my top of water, but do check my water change PH to match tank.
 
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