My chronic high pH problem ...

[Nemo_0916]

Randy,

been having this high pH for a long time now and cannot resolve it. Currently addint limewater at night only and that still does not lower the pH below 8.7ish I always get towards the end of the day (mearsure with pinpoint elc monitor nd confirmed with salifert and hagen test kits) ...

I wanted to put vinegar in the system (after reading your TERRIFIC article :) ) .. but was not sure what brand/type to put it. Any guidance here? What should I be looking out for?

I was also thinking of putting carbon dioxide DIRECTLY into the system by buying a CO2 bottle and filling it up with CO2 and injecting it into the skimmer's air INLET tube (skimmer has 2 air inlest tubes - that way one would be taking in air while the other forces CO2 into the system) ... would that work too??

Would like to try one but not sure yet. please guide the lost lost nd confused :) :) :) ???

thanks a bunch AS ALWAYS randy! :)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

For using vinegar to reduce pH, normal distilled white vinegar is best. More aeration is an even better choice. Adding soda water is also a good option. Direct addition of CO2 is also a fine plan. It doesn't take much at all. :)

How are you measuring pH? You might confirm that the meter and calibration fluids are correct by checking the pH 10 in new calibration fluid, or using grocery store borax to check it:

Borax pH Calibration
http://web.archive.org/web/20021015005420/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/2000/feb/bio/default.asp

[Nemo_0916]

Thanks Randy. will be out of town until Wed but when I get back I will confirm readings again and take action if necessary. :)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck! :)

[Nemo_0916]

Randy,

quick ?. How much vinegar would I start to mix in with my limewater (kalk)???? I want to get a general # first then monitor my pH and adjust accordingly but have no idea where to even start? :) THanks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd suggest starting at 30 ml of distilled white vinegar per gallon of limewater. If the goal is to just lower pH, and not deliver more calcium and alkalinity, then I'd use 2 level teaspooons of lime per gallon of limewater.

[Nemo_0916]

Randy,

I am currently using 2 level tsp of kalk per gallon of RO but the pH is still too high ...

should i just keep to the 2 tsp kalk/gal of RO in addition to 30 ml of distilled white vinegar and dose to help lower pH?

my calcium and alk are OK. Thanks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, that is a good plan. Or you can just add an equivalent amount of vinegar directly to the aquarium when the pH is high. :)

The advantageof adding it with the limewtaer is that it is added slowly, and so the O2 depletion that comes with vinegar use does not hit all at once and not as hard.

You could also add soda water (seltzer) directly to the aquarium. That addition will not drive bacteria or deplete O2 the way vinegar may.

[Nemo_0916]

Randy,

Seltzer is also a good idea ... I may want to try that instead of the vingear .. additional info on that? I am assuming starting off with the same amount (30 ml) and adding to kalk mix as well??

Any particulr brand of selzter you use or I should look our for? Thanks!

[Lincutis]

Randy this is very good. There is a article on lime water in the latest RK mag. It outlines this very well.

[Nemo_0916]

Lincutis .. Thanks! I must have missed it. Going to have to check tht out .... :) thanks again!

[Lincutis]

You're welcome Nemo!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Seltzer is also a good idea ... I may want to try that instead of the vingear .. additional info on that? I am assuming starting off with the same amount (30 ml) and adding to kalk mix as well??

No. It can only be added directly to the aquarium. It will ruin limewater. A teaspoon per gallon of salt water will drop the pH by a few tenths of a pH unit (it dropped it by about 0.2 pH units when I tried, but it was also bubbling at the time, so some CO2 was lost before it got into the salt water).

Randy this is very good. There is a article on lime water in the latest RK mag. It outlines this very well.

Thanks :)

[Nemo_0916]

Lincutis .. do you think you could post a link to the article you were referring to earlier? I could not find it ... :(

[Lincutis]

it is this months RK mag. Reef Alchemy: entitled; What your Grandmother never told you about lime.
I have not figured out this system yet to post links.

[Nemo_0916]

Lincutis ... ok let me try this search again ... :) :) Thanks.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This is the limewater article, in case you cannot find it:


What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

[Lincutis]

Thank you Randy...I haven't try to figure out links in this system yet.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

In most cases, you just single click on the link and an article will appear magically before your eyes. :)

[Nemo_0916]

Randy,

Thanks! Now I can print it out and read it at my leisure ... :)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck! :)