HELP PH is low!!!!

[sam_boy]

Does anybody know why my PH is at 7.8? I did a 20% water change 3 days ago. I just bought a Milwaukee PH controller. I calibrated it correctly at 7.0...dipped it in my tank....waited 10 minutes and it said 7.8. Why is it low and what can I do to bring it up?

Sal: 1.026
Temp: 82
Cal: 460 PPM
Alk: 14.1 dkH
Nitrate: is around 40ppm
AMmonia: none
Nitrite: none

[reefnetworth]

carbon dioxide will lower pH. ALK is way to high. have you been overdoseing calcium? ALK should max around 10-12. temp should not exeed 80 F. REEF-ON!!!

[sam_boy]

Yeah...I think I over dosed calcium and alk. I heard that excess c02 lowers PH. I'll do another water change tomorrow to bring down calcium and alk. But....still would like to know of another way of bringing up PH.

[reefnetworth]

dont change yet. allow them to adjust. should be ok in 1-3 days max REEF-ON!!!

[reefnetworth]

sorry, sam_boy

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7461652#post7461652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nano4brains
you can blow in the air intake tube of your skimmer. thats only temporary, and you might get dizzy! LOL! seriously, it will work. Co2 raises pH. REEF-ON!!!

:lol: I hope You're kidding right?

The most usual cause for low PH is high dissolved CO2 in the water. Try better aereation with fresh air. If your skimmer would accept a hosed in air try bringging it from the outside. Vent your house once in a while specially when cooking, many times inside air is higher in CO2.
If you are using a Calcium Reactor try dripping the effluent in the skimmer suction to help vent the CO2.
If you one to confirm it is the CO2 try this test.

Take a couple of cups of aquarium water and test its PH, using an aistone aereate it outside overnight and test in the morning, if the PH increased you have excess CO2 in the water.

The following article may help to give you more ideas:
Low PH causes and cures:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

[reefnetworth]

correct, i had to much "fun" today. im temporarily stupid! i cant believe i said that. oxygen raises pH, Co2 lowers. sorry sam_boy, i was looking at the high ALK. dduuuhhh mmmeeeee!!! REEF-OFF

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Limewater and aeration with fresher air are the bet ways to increase pH when alkalinity is normal to high. The article linked above has details.