Water Change and Ph

[sandy]

Okay, so... too much air in the change out water (while aging) will raise Ph?
Ph in my change out water ran at 8.6 after aging, so I tried the following:
Took the R/O D/I water (with 7.0 Ph) - put it in a 20 gal with airtube/limestone, hang on filter (empty), small powerhead and heater. Let the freshwater run 24 hours. Added Instant Ocean and let it run 48 hours. The Ph is still 8.6.
Was the airstone the problem? Is it the Instant Ocean?
Ph in my tank is 8.2. I can't use this change out water in large amounts yet, can I?

 

[broomer5]

Sandy,
I believe the airstone may be the problem. I always mix my salt mix with aerated RO/DI water - but I use a couple of powerheads to do it - not the airstone. I used to use the airstone too, but I had problems getting the saltwater to test out right.
Having a high pH on newly mixed saltwater often indicates that calcium carbonate may have fallen out of solution. Do you see any little white flaky bits in the bottom of the mixing tank ?
Does the saltmix dissolve within a couple few minutes, or does it seem to take forever ?
Do you keep your Instant Ocean seal up tight in an airtight container - or just roll the bag up with a twist tie or something ?
Hate to scrap a batch of saltwater - the stuff's relatively expensive - but you're right .... you should not use it yet for a water change, especially if you're planning a large water change in relation to your total tank water volume.
I'd remove the airstone, and keep running the powerheads to see if that helps. If it does - problem solved.
If not - you may want to scrap it - and start over without running the airstone.
This is one way - not the only way for sure

 

[sandy]

Dawg Gone It. Okay removed the airstone this am. Will test tomorrow am. Only a VERY small amount of white on the bottom of tank. Otherwise clear.
The salt mixes up right way - but then again I stir it off the bottom.
Just a twist tie for the IO.. bad? I'll find an airtight container right away.
Hope I don't have the scrap it, but if I do... okay. The whole 20 gal batch or try 10? Just testing the Ph will let me know if it's okay? I know ammonia, trites and trates are zero.

 

[nm reef]

The advice Broomer gave you is good stuff....I've also found its best to circulate the water via a powerhead and not a air stone. Same results when I used a air stone...the PH was always a bit high. Now its normally right around 8.3.
How large percentage of a water change are you doing? Whats the size of your display volume and how many gallons are you changing out? If its a relatively small percentage then you probably wouldn't have much of a problem...but if you do more than say 20% or so then I'd be concerned.

 

[sandy]

I have a 50gal long FOWLR display tank with 100lbs LR and 4" sandbed. I'm trying to get rid of NitrAte level 40. Did a 15 gal water change on Saturday. Was thinking about another 20 soon. Just got rid of a large sponge type thing that I believe may be a source of NitrAte problems. I took out the rock and scrubbed well in some of the water I was aging for the change.
Replaced 10 gallons of the aging water with fresh ro/ di and IO. No airstone. Will check ph in the morning. Water change will wait for now.
Thank you all so much!

 

[sandy]

oh, and this is interesting. After I removed the sponge... left the pieces and some of the water in the bottom of the bucket. All sorts of "bugs" swimming around in it. Flea like I think... don't have a microscope. Just lettin them swim around in the bottom of the bucket.