PH keeps dropping

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by JetEngineMech, Jul 10, 2008.

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  1. JetEngineMech

    JetEngineMech Feather Duster

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    This is now the second time in about 6 months that my PH has dropped into the mid 7's almost overnight, killing just about everything in the tank. I do 6 gallon water changes every Sunday, with water that is right at 8.2 but every so often out of nowhere this happens. I have live sand and rock in there, which I thought was supposed to help...I can't afford to keep doing this and restocking my aquarium, not to mention losing all the guys I look forward to seeing every morning.
     
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  3. wildreef

    wildreef Stylophora

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    Are you using a commercial ph buffer from your LFS or you can use baking soda as suggested by some others in here.

    They use arm and hammer brand but you would have to confirm this with the guys that use in here.

    How are your other water parametes ? such as Mag, cal, and your Alk ?
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2008
  4. R34dawn

    R34dawn Ocellaris Clown

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    maybe you need to check it twice a day, and keep some Marine liquid buffer handy till you find the source of your problem. what size tank do you have?
     
  5. baugherb

    baugherb Giant Squid

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    Very sorry for your losses....I've used kent super buffer in the past. Worked great for me. JMO....
     
  6. R34dawn

    R34dawn Ocellaris Clown

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    sorry I must of been posting by the time you did..oops
     
  7. ReefPlayground

    ReefPlayground 3reef Sponsor

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    Well, if your ph is dropping that drastically during the night, you might be having dKH problems. What is your alk levels? I've also seen this with overstocked aquariums. What is your aquarium set-up like and what kind of a bioload is in the system(livestock)? Also, are you running a refugium with any kind of caulerpa in it?
     
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  9. JetEngineMech

    JetEngineMech Feather Duster

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    I don't have a refugium but I do have a couple good size chaetos in the corner. The Alk is "high," that's all the test shows. I have some of the buff but don't use it too often because I never know when to add what chemical and don't want to go overboard on additives. Everybody says to add "their" brand to take care of this and that and it gets pretty confusing at times. The only stuff I add is marine trace once a week. How does the baking soda work, is that in addition to the buff or in place of it?

    The schedule I am on is this:
    Every Sunday I change out 6 gallons with RO water.
    Every Monday I add the Marine Trace.
    Every other Sunday I clean the filter and replace the carbon.

    My bio load is/was:
    CB shrimp RIP
    Serpent star is splitting open and is somehow still alive...for now
    Yellow Tang on the bottom alive for now
    Longnose Hawkfish RIP
    Redlip Blenny, small RIP
    Blue Damsel
    Anemone
    Xenia
    Zoa
    Sand-sifter star
    20 or less hermits
    2 Pincushion urchins
    2 Emerald crabs
    Anemone crab
    10 or less snails
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2008
  10. ReefPlayground

    ReefPlayground 3reef Sponsor

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    what kind of system do you have? (tank size, livestock, filtration, lighting, etc etc.)

    what is the the buffer you have called? is it for Ph or dKH or both?

    Alk readings come out in numbers. It sounds like you might be testing the Ph, not the Alk(dKH). What test kit brand are you using? also check what it tests for, Ph or dKH.
     
  11. ReefPlayground

    ReefPlayground 3reef Sponsor

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    In addition, what are your nitrate levels at?
     
  12. R34dawn

    R34dawn Ocellaris Clown

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    is in place of, but there is have to be a reason why this is happening, how big is your tank? is it smaller than 40g?