Low PH - how to get it up

[Taklu]

The parameters in my 12 g tank read
Salinity 1.027
Dkh 10
PH 8.0
CA 400

I dose kents two part solution, & for the last two days have started dosing kalkwasser in very small amounts.
Like the title says, how do I get {Start edit} the PH up {end edit}? I have tried adding PH buffer.

P.S. Reading a DG post made me edit!!

[MNGold15]

When did you test your pH? The time of day you test has a lot to do with it. What are you using to test with? Do you have good air flow around the tank? The main thing is to get your CA and DKH in check, the pH will follow. Your dKH seems a little high, but it is not bad, just try and keep it around 9-10.

[David Grigor]

DON"T USE PH BUFFERS. That only screws up your CA/ALK levels and doesn't fix the root cause.

First off PH of 8 is fine as long as ALK is up. CO2 is what is causing your PH to go up and down. Adding buffers will do nothing for that. Adding Kalk raises your PH becuase it reacts with the CO2 in your tank but it is a temporary effect as your talk will go back to equalibrium with the CO2 levels in your house. Dripping Kalk at night will help with compensation for the variances and/or using macro algae to help reduce CO2 levels in your tank.

While higher PH helps to increase calcification but really as long as your ALK levels are maitains the impact on growth isn't going to be too concerning to go to much out of your way to keep levels up.

[Taklu]

When did you test your pH? The time of day you test has a lot to do with it. What are you using to test with? Do you have good air flow around the tank? The main thing is to get your CA and DKH in check, the pH will follow. Your dKH seems a little high, but it is not bad, just try and keep it around 9-10.

Tested when the lights have been on for 4, 6, 8 hours. Will test today after the lights have been off for say 4 hours?

I have a regular pedestal fan that turns on after the lights (daylight 10K) has been on for about 2 hours. Temparature remains between 78-81

I use Tetra test kit. Buying a Salifert kit soon..as they are more accurate?:help:

Water change about 20% every 10 days or so ..sometimes after 15 days.

The aquapod has four chambers. the first one has a regular sponge filter ( I plan to remove this based on Davids reply to Hypertech's post on a related question)
The second one has ceramic rings & carbon
The third has bio balls... again planning to get rid of this
Third is basically used to house the pump.

With the changes I will now have two chambers not being used for anything... whats the best way to use these?

I bought the aqua remora skimmer...with the MJ1200 pump... would this be too much flow for my 12G tank?

I am sorry ..too many questions... but I am concerned for my corals.. the frogspawn isnt looking happy :brainoverload:

[storrisch]

where is the frogspawn placed? I have seen best results with euphyllia placed in medium-high flow. Mine are currently placed just below the return in my biocube and they extend fully after 1hr of the lights being on.

[Taklu]

[QUOTE=David Grigor;26831]DON"T USE PH BUFFERS. That only screws up your CA/ALK levels and doesn't fix the root cause.

Adding Kalk raises your PH becuase it reacts with the CO2 in your tank but it is a temporary effect as your talk will go back to equalibrium with the CO2 levels in your house. Dripping Kalk at night will help with compensation for the variances and/or using macro algae to help reduce CO2 levels in your tank.
QUOTE]

Will adding Kalk during the day cause any problems? I add like 5-10 ml every four or so hours ...a total of about 20 ml every day during the time lights are on.. maybe another 10 ml after the lights are off... am not dosing it drop by drop..coz I am yet set that up.

[Taklu]

where is the frogspawn placed? I have seen best results with euphyllia placed in medium-high flow. Mine are currently placed just below the return in my biocube and they extend fully after 1hr of the lights being on.

Its in a high flow area... I gues the flow was too much coz the forgspawn was pressed back into the shell almost looking like it would tear thru & float away. :brainoverload: now it does extend much

[David Grigor]

Ideally you want to add the Kalk when the lights are off. This is when the PH will be lower from respiration. Plus will give you more room for error from precipitation. If PH is allowed to reach 8.6-9.0 is the danger zone to precipitation.

The higher you can keep the PH during the night hours to higher the overall PH will be. For example: if PH starts at 7.8 it won't reach as high with the lights on as it would if it started at 8.0 and climbed from during the light period.

Since I dose Kalk throughout the night using a dosing pump, my ph is actually the highest in the am and actually falls slightly during day hours.