Lowering pH?

[Matt Rogers]

Pulled the test kit out. I am idiot. THere is an alk test in the Marine Basic. Hehe. Hey I just got this kit! [smiley=dunce.gif] [smiley=crazy.gif]

I did two tests to make sure.... alk is 2 meq/L .

Looking at the Sea Chem instructions, I found something interesting, it says:

"Natural sea water has a total alkalinity of 2-3 meq/L, but aquarium water should have a total alkalinity of 4-6 meq/L."



pH is still off the scale, high 8's I guess.

[Wrassman]

[glow=Teal, 2, 90%]Kalkwasser would be a good way to increase alkalinity in the tank. Of course, it will probably also raise your pH. Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) will raise your alkalinity as well, and it will have a negative impact on your pH level (it will lower it) What would be ideal is a Calcium Reactor, which would raise your Ca level and put CO₂ into the tank, lowering your pH in the process.

For the time being, if you are still interested, add some baking soda and bring up your Alk. This will have the net effect of lowering your pH.

We still don't know what your Ca is, though. But, if you can't maintain Alk or pH, you aren't going to be able to maintain any kind of decent Ca level for very long.

I have at least 12 links to great articles concerning Ca, Alk, and pH in the aquarium. If you are interested in pursuing this in depth, let me know, and I will share some of the links in this thread...[/glow]

[Matt Rogers]

Hey dude -

I'll try the baking soda trick after I let this simmer... just hooked up the Remora Skimmer. I think this thing might live up to the hype, it fired up foam damn quick even with a Rio. (I have a maxi-jet on the turtle tank I might swap with later.)

With some skimming, a water change next week, and the addition of some macroalgae when the light gets here, I think we can get this in the ballpark.

I'll try some of that stuff you mentioned then as well, thanks for your help Wrassman. Karma to ya...

[smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[arookeral]

I utilized the vinegar/water mix, about 8 teaspoons and it brought my ph down from 8.5 to 8.3...thanks

[arookeral]

thanks for the vinegar and water idea. it worked well to lower my ph

[Tangster]

First off a simple spike of say from 8.00 to 9.00 is nothing the spaz out about and if that is an issue for you best thing to use is Club Soda aka Co'2 .. As it will balance the Carbonates out with the Ca and not just lower the P.H like Vinegar will dropping PH to fast is as bad if not worse then spiking it upwardly .. Just a Idea if interested ? PH in its self means nothing now . I like to run my PH higher then many do . like near to 8.7 and try to keep it from getting below 8.3 ..Does wounder's for keeping pest algaes at bey..

[Scoffer]

my alk is 10.4 0r 3.7 meg/l.
cal is 400
pH is 8.2-8.4 (cheap test kit there)

that all sound ok to yall?? (alk to high?)

Scoffer

[ENGINE 41]

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