Kevman Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 SO, OK. My new tank is up and I retested the levels today and the PH is a bit low at 7.8.... The rest are: S>G= 1.027 MAGNESIUM= 1250 CALCIUM= 520 PHOSPHATE= 0.0 ALK= 8 PH= 7.8 NITRITE= 0.0 NITRATE= 0.0 Any idea on why it is low... Iwould like to 8.0-8.2 can I dose to bring it up without screwing up my ALK level... Any help would be much appreciated..(rock2) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 What are you using to test PH with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevman Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 Just a simple API Test kit and it is a little old.....I wish I had a meter, but I dont have hundreds of dollers to spend...and know one close by has one that I know of... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreefer Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 You don't need hundreds of dollars...I just replace my old one (Milwaukee) with a new one off ebay from eseasons for $76... DrMerle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 with that calcium and alk level your PH should not be low. I think your test kit is off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Yeah, plus an alk of 8 with a Ca of 520 seems out of whack. Might be worth taking a water sample to an LFS and have them double check your results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevman Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 Yeah' date=' plus an alk of 8 with a Ca of 520 seems out of whack. Might be worth taking a water sample to an LFS and have them double check your results.[/quote'] I thought so too... I'll take to UPSCALES and see what they think...DOH! And it will give me an excuse to go to UPSCALES, I havent been in a while... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I've had low pH with similar alk/calcium levels. I added kalk to my topoff and the venturi from my skimmer is now bringing in fresh air from outside. You may just have higher CO2 levels in your house. Just need to drive off that excess CO2 from the water, best done by aeration with fresh air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevman Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 KALK I've had low pH with similar alk/calcium levels. I added kalk to my topoff and the venturi from my skimmer is now bringing in fresh air from outside. You may just have higher CO2 levels in your house. Just need to drive off that excess CO2 from the water' date=' best done by aeration with fresh air.[/quote'] Ill try that.. How much KALK for 95 Gal..I run my intake from my Skimmer outside if I can see if that helps with the PH... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 2 teaspoons kalk per gallon of RO is the dosage you want. But start with the skimmer airline bringing in fresh air. I would bet that will bump your pH up to where you want it. Best to do things slowely as usual in this hobby. Try the airline first and give it a day then retest. If its still low, then you can move on to the next thing to try. Also you should get a second test done by someone, test kits are so finicky. Its always good to have a second test done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 What time of day dose your lights come on and when did you test it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevman Posted January 30, 2010 Author Share Posted January 30, 2010 Thanks 2 teaspoons kalk per gallon of RO is the dosage you want. But start with the skimmer airline bringing in fresh air. I would bet that will bump your pH up to where you want it. Best to do things slowely as usual in this hobby. Try the airline first and give it a day then retest. If its still low, then you can move on to the next thing to try. Also you should get a second test done by someone, test kits are so finicky. Its always good to have a second test done. Thanks Impur, Ill give the fresh CO2 a try... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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