Raising PH

dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Hey. I just did a PH test and got a 7.8. It should be arund 8.2-8.4.
Is there anyway to make it more basic without having to buy a buffer. I just don't know what would be safe, and what people use.
Thanks for the help.
Edit: I jsut read I can add some baking soda, is this true? And I have a 10 gallon, how much should I add to turn it from 7.8 to 8.2?
Thanks again.
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Ok I tested Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia and they are all at 0.
When I get this PH under control it is time to add some fishies
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
I've had the rock in there for almost a month.
I added some aragonite sand yesterday, and found some little snails on my rock and such.
 
nano-newb1983

nano-newb1983

Active Member
hmmm well has your tanks cycled yet? Did you ammonia nitrates and nitrites spike and drop yet? if so once you get PH under controls i would go ahead and add a clean up crew, and week or so down the road add a fish
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Originally Posted by NaNo-NeWb1983
http:///forum/post/2888633
hmmm well has your tanks cycled yet? Did you ammonia nitrates and nitrites spike and drop yet? if so once you get PH under controls i would go ahead and add a clean up crew, and week or so down the road add a fish
I wasn't testing, didn't have the money for the kit. It came already cured though, and was in another tank with live fish before.
I'm guessing it is 100% cycled, just because of that and the fact all of my readings are 0. Would you think it is safe, it's definetely been at least a month since I put in the rock and now there are little snails and stuff growing on it.
 
subielover

subielover

Active Member
Are you planning on keeping coral. If so, I would suggest buying calcium and alkalinity test kits. These are related to why your ph may be a bit low. I wouldn't dose buffer or anything of the sorts until you get the cal. and alk. tests done. Once they are post the results and we can go from there.

P.S. I think you should be fine to add a clean-up crew. I would do a 25% water change though, if you have not done so already.
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2888736
Are you planning on keeping coral. If so, I would suggest buying calcium and alkalinity test kits. These are related to why your ph may be a bit low. I wouldn't dose buffer or anything of the sorts until you get the cal. and alk. tests done. Once they are post the results and we can go from there.

P.S. I think you should be fine to add a clean-up crew. I would do a 25% water change though, if you have not done so already.
No corals for now, too much money for me right now.
I will think about it when I am financially better off (just finished my semester of schoolk and now have a job, but dont start for 2 weeks).
Edit: If there isn't much algae wil lthe cuc have problems finding food? I had a ton of algae when got the rocks but from moving them and everything its almost all gone.
So yah for right now FOWLR. I'm glas I can prob add a CUC because theres a good deal online from someone in my city, basically giving away hermit crabs hahha.
 
subielover

subielover

Active Member
I prefer snails to hermits. I actually don't keep a single crab in my tank. My biggest reason, beside them killing snails, is that they knock over coral but that is of no concern to you. What size tank do you have?
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
I have a 10 gallon, with 11 lbs of live rock.
I heard that they kill snails too. I was going to get some snails and emerald crabs, because they don't kill for the shell. I still might do that, but if I can get these hermit crabs in town I will probably just do that.
I don't have that good of lighting, so I don't think algae growth will be a problem, but even if I get these crabs I might still pick up some snails when I get my fish and just throw some hermit crab shells in and hopefully they get along haha.
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Originally Posted by subielover http:///forum/post/2888800
I wouldn't adjust it until you test for cal. and alk., most likely one of them is out of whack which is causing your ph to be low. Read this...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/45812/calcium-alkalinity-ph
then this...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/48111/another-way-to-look-at-calcium-alk-and-ph
should clear some things up for you.
Ok, I'll read that now. Thanks.
Ok, so basically if I use the PH buffer or w/e, it won't get to the root of the problem right? I need to do more tests and dose what is needed...
Well, I'll do some water changes and see what happens.
Actually you know what, I have a S.G. rating of 1.028, it's a little on the high side. Could this cause it? (I was going to add more water, but it's too busy out today for me).
 
jerryatrick

jerryatrick

Active Member
Subie is correct regarding the relationship between alk, calc and PH. Before you do your next water change check the PH of the saltwater that you are adding. Also try testing at different times during the day.
Not sure where you live but in the winter time when the heat is running inside the house your co2 levels will be higher causing a drop in PH.
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2889137
Subie is correct regarding the relationship between alk, calc and PH. Before you do your next water change check the PH of the saltwater that you are adding. Also try testing at different times during the day.
Not sure where you live but in the winter time when the heat is running inside the house your co2 levels will be higher causing a drop in PH.
Don't forget about mag!!!
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Would it be a good idea to dose the water with a ph buffer?
I will test the water next change before I put it in and if it's low what solution is available?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by dustyboy316
http:///forum/post/2889486
Would it be a good idea to dose the water with a ph buffer?
I will test the water next change before I put it in and if it's low what solution is available?
No, never dose a PH buffer to alter PH.
If your alkalinity is low then use it to raise alkalinity. If your PH is low find out why and fix the problem.
 
dustyboy316

dustyboy316

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2889510
No, never dose a PH buffer to alter PH.
If your alkalinity is low then use it to raise alkalinity. If your PH is low find out why and fix the problem.
Ok, amkes sense.
Do you think that a cuc can survive in a ph of 7.8?
Also as of right now my S.G. reading is high, would that change the PH?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by dustyboy316
http:///forum/post/2889535
Ok, amkes sense.
Do you think that a cuc can survive in a ph of 7.8?
Also as of right now my S.G. reading is high, would that change the PH?
A higher Salinity would typically keep PH slightly higher.
Low PH is usually caused by either excess dissolved CO2 or metabolic acids from rotting detritus.
 
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