PH lowering

New2Reefing · #1 01/22/2005, 03:03 PM

Just set up my tank, it's been running about a week with nothing in it (except instant ocean)...i tested the PH for the first time today and it turned light purple (on a scale of green to blue) so i'm guessing it's 8.7+...what is a good method to "on the spot" lower the PH? I heard something about vinegar, if i can use that instead of going all the way to the LFS it would be great...any advice or tips would help, thanks.

Grayout · #2 01/22/2005, 03:06 PM

I would let your tank stabilize a bit more before you go dumping stuff into the water. It can take up to a year for a tank to become extremely stable. Just hold on a little bit more.

New2Reefing · #3 01/22/2005, 03:31 PM

So what if nothing happens in another week? Will i start adding something then if it doesn't go down? I'm just impatient i guess, i thought after a week i'd be ready to put my LR in....

Grayout · #4 01/22/2005, 04:09 PM

When you introduce the LR your ph may show another rapid swing. I would try introducing it when your water starts to become a little bit more clear. Have you introduced the substrate yet? live sand? That will make a difference as well. When in doubt, in this hobbie don't start dumping chemicals in the water to change the situation. Let nature take its course and be patient.

New2Reefing · #5 01/22/2005, 06:54 PM

Well will a PH of 8.7-9.0 kill all the algae/life off the rocks?

New2Reefing · #6 01/22/2005, 07:04 PM

Well will a PH of 8.7-9.0 kill all the algae/life off the rocks?

marineways · #7 01/22/2005, 07:22 PM

NO but you need live sand if you dont have any.
Usually whan I set up a tank I put all the live sand and live rock in at the same time.
I do check the salinity of the water and if thats good i put in all the rock and sand. It depends on what salt you used to start it up because they have different buffing compounds in them.
And what kind of water you used to start it. Never had a high PH using reverse osmosis water and coral life salt. Most likely a PH of 8.7 wont harm the bacteria and you will most likly have to do some curing on the rock so I would throw the rock in there asap.
If you that worried about the bacteria because of the PH is so high then get some PH down. But I have never had a problem with it. All you need is to start a cycle in the tank with the bacteria. Just throw some live rock in with some damsels and you will see the PH go down on its own because the damsels will use up the alkalinity in the water. You have nothing to lose. Damsels are testing fish anyways.
use reverse osmosis water for refilling and remember to add fresh water not salt water in when it evaporates and buff the water before adding it in.

graveyardworm · #8 01/22/2005, 07:39 PM

"Damsels are testing fish anyways."
Lookout here come the fish police

I dont think I would add anything until your through the cycle about a month or so, everything will happen on its own if given time, At this point you should at least have a substrate in there if your going to use one, and live rock.

Grayout · #9 01/22/2005, 08:22 PM

Well, I'm going to have to agree with the last two comments. However, I wouldn't use damsels to cycle the tank. Live rock and perhaps a piece of dead shrimp from the grocery store would do just fine. Removing damsels from a tank filled with live rock can be a real pain.

marineways · #10 01/23/2005, 02:04 PM

I use chromis damsels because they arent agresive

porkbullet · #11 01/23/2005, 02:48 PM

Oh for the love of God, DON'T USE DAMSELS to cycle the tank. Not because I am some kind of fish-loving freak, but because they are super aggressive and a royal pain to remove from the tank once your cycle is complete.

Also, there is nasty karma at work when you remove your damsel. See this thread: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=510686

johnpoole · #12 01/23/2005, 03:06 PM

DAMSELS are best left at the lfs, you don't need a fish to run a clean cycle, just stay away from the blue meanies...

marineways · #13 01/28/2005, 12:40 AM

green chromis damsels are not agressive at all.
I have never seen one and might not ever.
All the other damsels are but not chromis damsels I know this from lots of experience.
And true you dont really need any fish to cycle the tank but they help know when it happens

"F" is 4 Fish · #14 01/28/2005, 12:57 AM

don't use the fish as a cycle. 1) a waste of your few bucks. 2) too complicated to handle afterwards. 3) don't suffer the poor thing. if you want to jump start a cycle, LR should be fine. and if that don't work, throw in a little fish food or something. something to add a little of ammonia in there to start the cycle.