Ph of 8.0 (Is That A Problem)

Hi Guys,

I have been having a hard time finding an accurate Ph test, so I bought a probe. Since it has been sitting in my tank, the Ph has been a steady 8.0. I let it sit in my sump and the lights have been on in the DT for about 10 house now. Here are the levels in my 55 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump:

SG: 1.024
Temp: 79.5
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
Alk: 11DKH
Mag: 1180ppm
Ca: 440ppm
Phosphate: 0.5ppm

I am trying to get the magnesium level up but that is a slow go. I do have a top on my tank (don't think the wife would let me take it off). I have a mag 7 for my return pump and 2 Koralia 1's. I am about to add a nano in about a week. I have read that the Ph should be between 8.1-8.3. I don't have any fish in the tank yet (only 2 snails). Is there anything other than popping the top to bring up the Ph? Should I stress over it? Should I look into buffering the Ph? If so, what do you recommend? Thanks in advance!!!

Regards,
Ivy

 

if it remains stable at 8.0 then it is fine! I would remove the top from the tank...will help quite a bit! Other then raising your mag everything looks good!

 

You could add buffer to raise your ph but as long as your alkalinity and ph stay stable I wouldn't worry about it.

 

+1 on schackmel for me - if you want to know how much CO2 build up in your tank is affecting the PH - take a cup full of water out, add an airstone/ air pump combo, to the cup aggitate it for an hour and then measure PH - if the PH of the water in the cup is higher - then CO2 is the issue and raising the cover will improve it ( credit to Rhandy Holmes Farley for this method)

but 8.0 as mike implies is not a major issue IMO - as long as it stays stable and doesnt start dropping even lower

Steve

 

Thanks for the help guys! I got home last night around 11:00 and the Ph was about 8.08. I may try and take the tops off and see I it goes up. Does it matter that my sump is not covered? Thanks again!!!

Ivy

 

Leave the top on your aquarium- if you have a topless sump, you are likely getting adequate gas exchange from it. Losing 0.5 - 1.0 gallons of water a day in evaporation is aweful for any persons house... people really need to rethink their priorities before they start running topless aquariums- unless they have excellent ventilation in the room the aquarium is sitting in.

 

another thing you can try is to open a window in your fish room. This will also help to raise your ph.

 

I must not understand the concept behind more air circulation...my tank is covered with wood and only run PC's for about 11 hours a day and it gets pretty muggy in the hood when I open it. But my pH is at like 8.4-8.6?

What would mine raise to if I got a fan? Or left the latch open?