PH and Alkalinity Issues ...

[applesiders]

I have been having problems keeping my PH steady at 8.3, so I purchased a PH Buffer to help balance it. It did finally balance, but then eventually dropped down to 7.8 again. So I tested my alkalinity and saw it was pretty high at 240. I let the tank just rest for a few days and the PH came up to 8.3 again and was stable. Now I noticed it dropped to 8.0 again. My alkalinity seems to stay around 240. Is my alkalinity too high or could there be another issue causing my PH to drop? If it is the alkalinity, what can I do to reduce it if needed? Everything else in my tank is stable (i.e. salinity, amonia, nitrites, nitrates). The water I used for my tank from the start was dechlorinated tap water and Instant Ocean salt mix. Dechlor tap water is what I use to top off the tank as well. Could this be causing my PH problems? Any input and/or suggestions would be helpful. Regardless of my PH being up and down, my hermit crabs and snail seem to be just fine.

 

[NanoReefaholic]

You're using CaCo3 to measure alk so the numbers you see around may seem odd as most use dKH. Currently you're sitting at 240 CaCo3, 4.8 meq/L, or 13.41 dKH depending on how you want to read it. Your alk should be 143.2 - 179 CaCo3, 2.86 - 3.57 meq/L, or 8-10dKH.

Test your calcium and magnesium levels. I suspect your calcium to be low but there is a chance your Mg may be as well. Alk, Ca, Mg, and pH are directly related to each other. If you have a continuing problem with one chances are another one is off.

 

[NanoReefaholic]

Oh I forgot to mention that you shouldn't use tap water, ever. Your system is a closed ecosystem and what goes in will simply accumulate until you start having problems. Tap water is a ticking time bomb, sometimes there are duds but most of the time they go off causing more problems then you'd realize.

The tap water that we drink isn't at the same purity level that we need for our reefs. Tap water is considered 'acceptable' whereas reefs need pure water. Take a TDS meter to your tap water and you'll see what I mean.

 

[applesiders]

Thanks NanoReefaholic,

So since I'm new to all this, what instrument or method should I use to test the Alk, Ca, and Mg? I did check my PH level today, and it was right on the spot at 8.3. I've been using API 5 in 1 test strips to test basic water levels (i.e. GH, KH, Nitrite, Nitrates) as well as a separate Amonia test kit.

About the tap water issue ... should I do a larger water change (larger than 20%) and use RO mixed saltwater to bring it into balance? I wonder if that would help my PH and stuff to stay more steady if there are trace elements causing it to be off from my tap water.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[NanoReefaholic]

I'd look into some good test kits for individual readings. If one kit goes bad you can isolate it and get one new kit.

Just stop using tap water and do some water changes. They will help ease the problem while you figure out what is wrong. Buy the test kits and test your tank as well as the water before adding salt. If you ever have have a problem this will help you isolate it. Chances are you have low Ca. Test for it before trying to fix anything via supplements. If you don't know exactly what's wrong you may just be making the problem worse.

 

[applesiders]

Ok, thanks very much!