Water Params - having trouble

[gnashty]

Just did my weekly test and here are the results. I am having a difficult time keeping PH at 8.3, always stays between 7.9-8.1 and rarely goes above 8.1 without dosing, and just falls back the next day anyway. I know its not good to chase PH so is there anything below you see that would depress my PH so much?

KH - 11
CA - 430 (going to raise to 450)
AM - 0
NI - 0
NA - 10-15 (20% water change today)
Phospate - .2
SG - 1.025
PH - 8.0
Temp - 78
Iodide - .08
Alk - 3 meq/L (surprised the kalk in ATO didnt keep this in check)
Mag - 1300

I dont use any dosers or anything, just testing and adjusting as needed. I did try adding a tsp of kalk to my 10g top off tank for a couple days and does keep PH up a little but i doubt that is a good idea just to keep PH stable.

anything in these params that stands out expect the obvious (high trates, low alk, high phosphates?)

 

[hackman72]

Don't chase numbers with pH. Does more harm than good. Use whatever natural buffers suit your tank and inhabitants. As long as it's not dropping too low, 7.9-8.1 range should be fine. Mine is and has always been a steady 8.0. As long as the tank residents are happy, no worries.

 

[cdub]

also adding kalk to your top off is a good idea to boost ph and calcium levels. they actually have kalk reactors just for this purpose. i had one for awhile to try and put off getting a calcium reactor, but then my demand got too high and i had to give in and buy one anyway.

 

[dakota9]

It's fine....... Leave it alone...

 

[gnashty]

cdub;505248 wrote: also adding kalk to your top off is a good idea to boost ph and calcium levels. they actually have kalk reactors just for this purpose. i had one for awhile to try and put off getting a calcium reactor, but then my demand got too high and i had to give in and buy one anyway.

Yeah, i looked into dosers and reactors but just dont have the $$ or room for it, plus knowing me it will do more harm than good.