pH low; all other parameters acceptable

R

rocklymber

My fairly new tank (set up mid to late October) is doing great, except the pH is consistently low. I've been using buffer to raise it to the correct level. My coral frags and all inverts are behaving normally, and I've seen 'pods on the glass.

I have a feeling that it is my top off water (I've been buying water at the grocery store). Now, before you all go telling me to buy an RO/DI system: it's simply NOT an option.

Do you have suggestions for where to get better quality top off water? Or, is it feasible to just buffer my top off water before adding it to the tank?
 
Don't chase PH
Take a look at this article.....
http://melevsreef.com/articles/dont-chase-ph
Keep
temp around 78deg
Salinity around 1.026
Alkalinity 8-11dKh
Calcium around 400
Magnesium around 1350
And PH should be where it needs to be....
 
I read that article. Thanks.

The problem isn't the small fluctuations addressed in that and other articles I've seen. The problem is that my pH drops significantly (read: dangerously) over time, as I top off, before I do water changes.

Does anyone have any helpful hints as to where I might purchase top off water, or can anyone advise me whether it's ok to just buffer the water before adding it to my tank?

Thanks!
 
Most lfs sale rodi water. Would be better than grocery store distilled water. Also, opening your windows on nice days will significantly raise ph
 
When the lfs tested it last night, it was around 7.2, I believe. I test maybe once a week, and notice that the pH drops over time. I don't do frequent water changes. (No, I don't have fish yet.)

Thanks, Mike! In an emergency, would you recommend just purified drinking water, or distilled?
 
There's no way your saltwater livestock would be alive if the pH was that low. What kit are you using to test it? What time of day are you testing?

What are these parameters currently:
Temperature
Salinity
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
 
Yeah, the guys at the lfs were shocked last night. They said if I had any fish, they'd be dead.

I'll run a full series of tests when I get home from work, and post results here. All parameters were normal when checked last night, other than pH.

I did pull the sample in the morning yesterday, and they didn't test the water until around 7pm last night...could that have affected the pH?

Like I said before, I notice the pH level becoming lower over time, not dropping drastically, and never increasing.
 
How old is the tank? What is in the tank? Can you post a pic of the tank.


Sent from pay phone in the airport.
 
If your alk and ca are where thy should be I wouldn't even worry about checking ph. Also if you are using buffer like you said there is a good chance your alk and ca are out of sync. Don't use buffer ever.
 
The tank is about 2 months old. I'll take and post some pictures later, if you think they'll help.

I haven't checked alk and ca. To be clear, you're saying I shouldn't ever use buffer? Not even when it's dangerously low, as it was last night? From what you guys are saying, and from what I've read; you're saying I should never buffer the water, but should instead dose with other substances to stabilize alk and ca?

Can ANYONE please tell me a good source for top off water?
 
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@rocklymber wrote:
The tank is about 2 months old. I'll take and post some pictures later said:
For good top off water, you need rodi water with 0 TDS (total dissolved solids). Since you have already stated that buying a rodi unit just isn't possible, your only other logical choice is to purchase it from a local fish store by the gallon or find another local hobbyist close to where you live that has a rodi unit and would be willing to sell you some.
Click to expand...
 
The only way to get an accurate pH measurement is to use a pH meter. Many controllers include this as part of their kit. However, if you are going to get a fish store to measure your water, they need to get it as quickly as possible. Measuring it 10-12 hours later, pH will be invalidated.

You really do need a RO/DI system of your very own. Make drinking water for your household and DI water for your aquarium. :)

If you use two-part dosing, that will keep pH where it belongs as well as replenish spent alkalinity and calcium. Please take the time to read over this article:
Maintaining Good Water Quality -- http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.php/302-Maintaining-Good-Water-Quality
 
Looks like tank might still be cycling and has a good amount of algae starting to grow. I'm guessing that your cal is extremely low and alk is sky high. Since you don't have enough corals to really need to dose anything right now. Just do water changes, cut back on feeding, wait till the green colors start to turn multi colored or purple before looking into dosing. Also, I've had good luck in the past with walmarts ro water. It was about 1-10 ppm but was better then the stores by me at 30-100 ppm. Some LFS I have seen 0-20 just check it if you can. For now I think a good 30-50% water change should help get your water close to balanced again. After that water change keep up on testing all parameters.


Sent from pay phone in the airport.
 
My guess is that your Alk is high. And yes if your ca and Alk are in sync I don't care what your ph says you will be fine. Because if those are good your ph should be good. My guess is inaccurate test kits. I would do a large water change and then check Alk and ca. Don't buy or use buffer no matter what the LfS guy tells you. If I didnt have a ph monitor on my controller I would have no idea what my ph was nore would I care or ever check it.
 
As others have said, do not chase ph, nothing to worry about. What you do want to keep stable and at appropriate level is Alkalinity. Hope this helps. Last time I checked my ph was about 4 months ago, it was 7.6 and I haven't checked it since. Everything is doing fine.
 
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