Adding Vinegar to...top off water?

[Sardaukar]

Hey Randy
Ive got my Alk at ~4.0 meq/l and calc at 400 ppm, but I get very high pH towards the end of the day. 8.5-8.55, with it hitting close to 8.6 every now and then. Ive read that people drip vinegar with their kalk to keep the pH down. Is it possible for me to drip vinegar with my top off water to keep the pH at a lower range? Its a 15 gallon tank btw. Thx.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, you can do that if need be.

How are you supplementing alkalinity?

[Sardaukar]

Im dosing B-Ionic two part for calcium and alk daily. pH drops to about 8.2 by morning. Ive also started running my skimmer (cpr bak pak) only at night so as to prevent driving off too much CO2 during the day. That seems to have worked a little and the pH since ive started doing that has only reached about 8.52-8.53 at the most. Right now, im dosing 7.5ml of the calc part and 5 ml of the alk part each morning. 8.5 is a little higher than I would like. Id prefer a tighter range like 8.2-8.4

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Actually, I'd expect if the pH is high, then the skimmer will be pulling in CO2, so I'd keep it running. Adding a little vinegar would be OK under those circumstances (start at, say, 5-10 mL per gallon of top off water), or you can switch to a two part system with a lower pH rise.

[Sardaukar]

Ok. I thought I had heard of a lower pH B Ionic but I have been unable to find one. Do other two part additives like C Balance have a lower pH increase?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Here's the low pH B-ionic:

http://www.esvco.com/prod14.html

I also give a DIY recipe here:

A Homemade Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Additive System
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

I don't know in detail how the various other brands compare.

[Sardaukar]

Thanks Randy. I will prolly try adding a little vinegar in the amount you recommended to my top off water.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck!