Raising PH but not ALK?

How do I go about slightly raising my PH without affecting my ALK? My ALK is 10dkh however my PH fluctuates between 7.8-8.0 throughout the lighting cycle. I would like to have that range bumped up to about 8.0-8.2.
I have some PH booster , but it raises the alk considerably with each dose.
What can I do?
 

ophiura

Active Member
Do you have glass tops, and what is your tank circulation? I would first take a gallon and aerate it for 24 hours. If the pH increases, you have a gas exchange issue and you can raise the pH but acting on that.
 
I just tested the calcium and it is reading 380. That is a bit lower than I usually keep it. I'll add some calcium and get that reading up. I also just tested the ALK and it is a bit low as well now. My current ALK reading is 8.2 What should I attempt to get my ALK up to?
Oh yeah, and I do in fact have a glass top that I keep one half open all of the time, FYI.
I have a 500 gph pump in my sump and a Koralia 3 850 gph PH in the tank. The tank is 55g.
 

geoj

Active Member
I like my alk 8-10
Make sure you have no phosphate it can buff your alk and mess with your ph.
Some ph additives use phosphates, avoid them.
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Get your levels back into your perspective range, and remove the glass tops and see how it affects your PH level....
 
OK, will do. If I remove the glass canopy and need to replace it with the crating stuff, where do I find this stuff in my Home Depot? I 'm not even sure what to call what I'm looking for if I were to ask an associate...
 

ophiura

Active Member
It is often called eggcrate, but what it is is the stuff often put over flourescent lights or vents in those drop down ceilings. I am looking at some in my office ceiling right now. I think I found it in the lighting section, but not where the home fixtures are, more like where the bulk/contractor/corporate stuff is. Which probably makes no sense....but nonetheless you should be able to find it at any home depot or lowes.
 
OK, so I found the eggcrates and cut 2 sections and have replaced my glass canopy. Could some one briefly explain to me the science behind the gas transfer issue that is caused by the glass top and its affect on PH?
 

geoj

Active Member
The pH, KH, and CO2 have a fixed relationship as long as carbonate is the only buffer present. Water can only keep in solution a fixed amount of CO2. The more CO2 that gets dissolved into the water the more carbonic acid forms, which lowers the pH. With a tight glass top excess CO2 dose not dissipate from the water and pH lowers. The carbonic acid can also dissolve Aragonite (carbonate minerals) and raise the KH and the pH with it. So if you pull the glass you may get better gas exchange and the pH may come up. But it may not. You may have excess waste, being acidic it can lower pH and could be the other prob.
 

hunted

Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
Do you have glass tops, and what is your tank circulation? I would first take a gallon and aerate it for 24 hours. If the pH increases, you have a gas exchange issue and you can raise the pH but acting on that.
Do what ophiura said, I had a ph problem a few weeks ago that was ongoing for about a month. I did this test and found that the oxygen content in my house was lower during the day causeing my ph to drop at day with lights on and raise at night with lights off. So now I just crack a window in my fish room during the day (can't have it open much -20 C outside). And this fixed the problem, my PH went from 7.7 during the day to 8.3
.
Thanks ophiura
 

hefner413

Active Member
is the eggcrate necessary just to prevent fish jumping? Or are there other benefits? Just wondering...
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Eggcrate to prevent the fish from jumping......I had a similar problem with PH, and I didn't use glass tops, just the house sealed so tight.....I fixed my issue with drilling a hole through the exterior wall of the house and running a 3/8" line directly outside attaching it directly to my skimmer so my skimmer was drawing nice, clean air, and man what a difference it made.....
 

m0nk

Active Member
There are other benefits of egg crate too, not just keeping fish from getting out but keeping things that are already outside the tank from getting in. I have a 3 year old and any time he throws something (which is all the time for a 3 year old) it could end up in the tank if I didn't have egg crate on it.
 

hunted

Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Eggcrate to prevent the fish from jumping......I had a similar problem with PH, and I didn't use glass tops, just the house sealed so tight.....I fixed my issue with drilling a hole through the exterior wall of the house and running a 3/8" line directly outside attaching it directly to my skimmer so my skimmer was drawing nice, clean air, and man what a difference it made.....
Ya I'm going to run a line to my skimmer as well but I haven't had the time
 
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