PH and KH

[jholt1]

Why is it so hard to get my ph and kh up to the correct levels? It seems like I am always adding buffer/increaser.

 

[tim8111]

What Salt mix are you using and what buffer?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[jholt1]

Using Sea Chem Reef Salt and was using Sea Chem buffer and ph increaser, recently switched to Brightwell for the buffer and ph increaser. What would you recommend?

 

[tim8111]

What is your pH and Alk testing at?

Seachem Reef Salt has a low KH due to the high calcium. I use Seachem Reef Builder and it maintains my pH around 8.3 and hardness 8 dKH.

What size tank do you have? Do you run a skimmer? And how long have you been trying to raise these parameters?

Excess CO2 in the house can drive pH down as well.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[jholt1]

ph is at 7.7 and KH at 4-5. I have a 90 gallon tank and I do run a skimmer 24/7. I dont really test the water that often, but when I do everything is fine with the exception of these 2 parameters. I will dose for a few days and get both up then the next time I test, which is usually a month or so later they are back down again.

 

[tim8111]

How often are you dose the buffer?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[dannybradley]

What's your calcium and magnesium, and how are you dosing them? If you don't have a Mg test kit, bring a water sample of to Keen Reef and he can check it for you.

 

[grouper therapy]

ares;324776 wrote: test mag and cal.

and what test kit are you using for the alk test?

forget about PH IMO, its a worthless parameter that you cant do anything about but dump lots of chemicals into the tank to chase numbers.

<span style="color: black"><u>test your alk, cal, and mag, and if they are around 8-12, 400-450, and 1300-1500, then I gaurentee your PH will be somewhere around 8.0-8.3 and that will be A-OK.</em></u></span>

if your dosing and your not seeing a change though, STOP DOSING. something is wrong... your test kit may be expired or just a bad batch, who knows. get a 2nd opinion.

+1 absolutely