Whats the best way to raise my pH?

[NeveSSL]

Hi all!

I was wondering what you guys thought was the best way to raise my pH? I thought about baking the baking soda in two part solution and using that. Its not terribly low... I think its around 8.0 to 8.1.

Thanks!

Brandon

[kkyyllee]

imo 8.0-8.1 is fine

[kuoka]

I use Reef Buffer by Seachem.

[Faisal1976us]

Ok how i can use baking soda for raising Ph ? and is it safe ?

[papagimp]

All depend on the reasons for the low PH, and as mentioned earlier, don't think 8.0 is that bad either. If you have high co2 levels, all the baking soda in the world isn't going to help you out.
I've been running a 55g reef for about 2 years and PH is rarely above 7.9.

Faisal, baking soda is the ingrediant used in alot of alk supplements. Well, not "baking soda" but whatever the chemical composition is. Dissolve it in water and add to tank. Perfectly safe. In fact, I recommend you look up randy holmes 2 part recipe, it's basically the exact same thing you'd buy at the store only a heck of alot cheaper.

[kuoka]

If it's good quality baking soda, it should be safe (I've never used it though). You can do a search on the internet and you will find directions to do it.

[kevin2000]

Your PH level is fine. Whats your alk level?

Common mistake by new aquarist is the belief that they can control PH ... yeah buffers (alkalinity) can influence PH but once you have a reasonable level of alkalinity that influence goes away.

Ph rises and falls throughout the day .. so long as you have a reasonable level of alkalinity and some turbulence on your water surface to provide air exchange chances are you PH is just fine.

Heres a couple articles that will help.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

Good luck.

[papagimp]

Arm and Hammer is perfectly safe, no need to special order anythign, just make a trip to the grocery store

[NeveSSL]

I'm definitely not buying anything extra! :lol:

I'm planning on Randy-Holmes Farley's two-part eventually.

I'm not sure on my alk just yet. I'm going to be ordering my test kits soon.

I was just curious about this. Makes sense not being able to control it!

Thanks!

Brandon

[papagimp]

FYI, my alk runs about 11-14dkh and CA runs about 420-460ppm and my PH still runs 7.9 Although when using the B-ionic 2 part, I see an increase with PH where when i was using strickly reef builder and similar seachem products for alk, nothing...not even my alk went up at all.