pH 8.3 or stability?

[rayray]

In an ideal reef, pH would be 8.3 always. But in reality thats hard to do. Many TOTM have constant pH below 8.0.

I am currently a pH chaser. Some say pH should not swing more than 0.2 in a day. What do you other reefers do & why?

 

[zigginit]

your alk is to low. it is the buffer that prevents ph shifts

 

[bella aqua]

+1 on check your alk
Get it to 8dkh
This will stop the ph swing

 

[jessesoto33]

+2.....alk

 

[travisw30]

+3.....alk

 

[oopsdididothat]

What kind of buffer do you use?

 

[travisw30]

ALK I use the Sodium Carbonate from bulk reef supply. They have a dosing Calculator as well.

 

[rayray]

My alk has never been below 8. Other things affect the pH, such as bio load (organic acids), photoperiod, calcium reactors, blah blah... I have been in the situation of alk 12, ph 8.0-8.3 swing because I had 25 fish in 75g; very high alk and "low" pH because I pushed the box to the edge.

I raise pH with SeaChem Reef buffer and kalkwasser. I have a two chamber Ca++ reactor and a kalkstirrer. I am considering setting up a 100g fuge on reverse daylight, and attaching soda lime to the intakes of my skimmers. The only reason I do this is to push equilibrium towards calicium fixation.

I was just surveying what other reefers find more important, pH 8.3 or a steady non-changing pH anywhere between 7.8-8.4

I'll put +4 in the stable pH category. Thanks.

 

[Laker]

My coral load isn't too high (predominantly softies and some LPS), and my pH ranges between 7.9-8.2. So far I've had success with B-Ionic 2-part, and haven't had to consider kalk.