lquidglass Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 My PH is at 8.2 when lights are on to 7.3 when I get up in the AM and the lights are off? Is this normal? Thanks in advance!(scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 A pH swing is normal, as corals stop photosythesizing and let out CO2 at night, which turns into carbonic acid and lowers the pH. However, it's usually a swing of .3-.4; a .9 swing is probably unhealthy and should be dealt with. One thing that helps is running a refugium with macroalgae on a reverse light cycle, as the macroalgae will uptake the co2 and produce oxygen. -Sol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lquidglass Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 Sorry I think I was off on my test its at 7.79 in the morning and 8.2 at night. I do have a refugium set up running on a reverse cycle. I run my atintics 12 hours and metal halide 8 hours a day. What are some of your light cycles and what is best. thanks Stephan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 You could try dripping Kalkwasser at night. It really helps my pH to stay more stable and the corals don't mind it, either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 That PH swing isn't awful and dripping Kalk will help as will the refugium idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Thats what my ph swing was to a T, I now just top off (auto topp off) with kalk in the tub and it keeps me at 7.95-8.25 But honestly if everything looks happy you should be ok, I personally dont like to see ph under 7.9 but its the big PH swings FAST that hurt your corals, you should be ok. If your curious drip kalk or top off a small amount of kalk for a month and see if you notice a difference. Just be sure not to get any sediment in the tank and drip or TO properly, or you will be doing more bad than good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lquidglass Posted October 20, 2007 Author Share Posted October 20, 2007 I do have an auto to off. What is the formula that you use? Stephan, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Personally I mix it into my top off tub 2 teaspoons per gallon (that fully saturated but you can start with much less) I would suggest you start with less. My controller kicks on a mixing pump in the top off to mix only 60 seconds if the ph drops under 7.95 Before I had a controller I just make it mix once a day at night. The idea is to get it to settle before you top off, you don't want the top calium layer getting in the tank and you dont want the sediment getting in there either. This is the method Randy Holmes uses and it has worked well for me. Just remember to keep it as simple as possible, if you really like the design, maybe consider stepping uip to a DIYKalk reactor, this is on my list of things to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Brandy Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Did you get your PH figured out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lquidglass Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 No I still have not done anything yet to fix this. I use an auto top off that is gravity fed and always hooked up. Will this work for dripping kalk? If I add a pump to mix it once a day for 60sec. But what keeps this sediment from going in the tank when it's mixing? Thanks, Stephan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Bob Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 No I still have not done anything yet to fix this. I use an auto top off that is gravity fed and always hooked up. Will this work for dripping kalk? If I add a pump to mix it once a day for 60sec. But what keeps this sediment from going in the tank when it's mixing? Thanks, Stephan I have used a 5 gallon bucket with a stand pipe in the bottom connected to a float valve to dose Kalkwasser in the past. I basically dumped a pound of pickling lime in the bucket and then used another float valve to keep the bucket filled with RO/DI water. I then stirred it up with a plastic spoon every night. Seemed to work fine. I have not switched to a DIY calcium reactor which take alot less attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.