Ph Level!!

wpayton34

wpayton34

Member
I am cycleing my nano tank and my levels are
ammon 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
Ph 7.9
My ph level is bad right?? or does this mean my tank has cycled and i need to water change?? I never had a ph level like that w/ my 75 gallon tank and i used tap water. IN this tank i used RO water from teh store. DOes that make a diffrence??
 
murph

murph

Active Member
It could; many non reef style salt mixs take into consideration a PH value of tap water to mix in. Switch to a reef style mix for RO water and do your large water change as you would for any newly cycled tank and you most likely will be fine.
Might also consider a nightly/everyother night kalk drip to maintain PH alk and calcium levels and inhibit nuseience algea growth. IMO 8.4 is best.
 
sfoister

sfoister

Member
RO water is considered soft water, Tap is hard. Soft water by nature has a lower PH and tap water tends to be on the high side.
You can try doing a water change to correct it, but 7.9 is not HORRIBLE. It's low, sure. But not the end of the world. Don't use any suppliments to raise you PH. Instead, try to find the reason for the high PH. Alkalinity can affect PH, test your alk. There are a number of factors that will cause your PH to go up or down. I am not a chemist so I'll let someone else give you a more in depth answer, but what I've given you so far should be enough to get you started.
P.s. My PH right now is 7.8 and I just finished a cycle.
 
wpayton34

wpayton34

Member
hmm somebody said to take the bio balls out of my nano. will this cause a ph level like that or could it be i used 2 silversides to start my cycle??
 
sfoister

sfoister

Member
Originally Posted by wpayton34
hmm somebody said to take the bio balls out of my nano. will this cause a ph level like that or could it be i used 2 silversides to start my cycle??
Bioballs will hold nitrates but a lot of people use them with no problems. I would look elsewhere for your PH problem.
Try a waterchange and see what happens.
 
wpayton34

wpayton34

Member
just probably 2 hrs ago I think that might be the case. Im startting to see diatomes well thats waht i think they are. how much sould i water change in a 24 gall nano??
 
hatessushi

hatessushi

Active Member
You might have cycled since you have diatoms. Your pH level is not bad. Mine typically runs 7.8 to 7.9. what is more important is stability. Although seawater typically runs from 7.8 in the open sea to 8.4 (i can't remeber but could be 8.3) in the reef areas. Do you have a lid coverning your tank thats solid plastic or glass? if so you need to make sure that the gas exchange is taking place and a completely covered tank inhibits the exchange. This also means you need good water movement.
 
wpayton34

wpayton34

Member
well i got a plastic top to the nano tank and it also has fans on it for the lights. It also has a power head built in. So i think the exchange is ok.
 
hatessushi

hatessushi

Active Member
One way to test if the air exchange is ok it to take a cup of tank water outside and run an airstone in it. If the pH goes up then your water may be lacking in the exchange of gases.
 
wpayton34

wpayton34

Member
when i do my water change what corals could i put in my nano. its a 24 gall w/ (2) 36 watt combo bulbs and remote ballast, 290 GPH submersible pump.
 
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