PH fluctuation

dcat77

dcat77

New Member
I have a 75 gallon tank. Recently I bought a new lighting setup for my tank. I went from a 260 watt unit to a 432 watt unit. Since I made the change my ph changes dramatically from 8.0 with lights out at night to 8.5+ during the day when they are on. Would a calcium reactor be a good idea for trying to maintain my ph? I can get a very good deal on one or I wouldn't be considering it.
 
fraggle rock

fraggle rock

Member
PH fluctuation with light is normal. from 8 to 8.5 im not sure of. Some of the pro on the forum could tell you if its to much fluc.. Are you reading from the surface or lower in the water column. The reason I ask is PH can be diffeernt depending on the area of the tank. So your daily readings are aproximations really, just a small sample of what your water is doing. surface top right of tnk is 8.4, but the middle bottom is 8.1, that doesnot indicate a problem, just diffrenent conditions in that pat of the tank.
 
big

big

Active Member
Originally Posted by dcat77
http:///forum/post/3126317
I have a 75 gallon tank. Recently I bought a new lighting setup for my tank. I went from a 260 watt unit to a 432 watt unit. Since I made the change my ph changes dramatically from 8.0 with lights out at night to 8.5+ during the day when they are on. Would a calcium reactor be a good idea for trying to maintain my ph? I can get a very good deal on one or I wouldn't be considering it.
I ask nearly this same question years ago. A PH swing is a normal occurrences from our light to darkness cycle, although a .5 one is a bit high along with your upper PH reading. Mine use to swing approximately 3 tenths tested with a Milwaukee S.M. meter.
Are you testing with a quality probe or with a testing solution? With solutions a few tenths may be hard to discriminate.
One of the methods I used to counteract extreme swings where running my Fuge and sump lighting in opposition to tank lighting.. This helps

Another issue may be a low Alkalinity, check to be sure you Alkalinity is high enough..........
As to the benefit of running a reactor, I will need to leave that to someone that has done that to see how much that would help. I do not run one..........
Oh BTW I see now the posting number,,,,,,,,, Welcome to the Forums!
Warren
 
dcat77

dcat77

New Member
Thanks for welcoming me! I test with a pinpoint digital ph meter. I keep my probe about midway between top and bottom of tank. My alk is 2.9 but I noticed my calcium is also low at 300ppm.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by dcat77
http:///forum/post/3126358
Thanks for welcoming me! I test with a pinpoint digital ph meter. I keep my probe about midway between top and bottom of tank. My alk is 2.9 but I noticed my calcium is also low at 300ppm.
is your alk at 2.9 dKH? If it is, then that is really low. calcium doesn't have as much to do with pH as alkalinity does. pH swings can be overted by running your refugiums lights to turn on when your main lights turn off.
And, as said before, if you are testing with a liquid test solution, your readings may be a little off. Make sure that your test kits and even your probe is within the expiration date.
 
dcat77

dcat77

New Member
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/3126362
is your alk at 2.9 dKH? If it is, then that is really low. calcium doesn't have as much to do with pH as alkalinity does. pH swings can be overted by running your refugiums lights to turn on when your main lights turn off.
And, as said before, if you are testing with a liquid test solution, your readings may be a little off. Make sure that your test kits and even your probe is within the expiration date.
Sorry thats 2.9 meq/l or 8.16 dKH.
 
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