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low ph help
- Thread starter fred11
- Start date
Do you have any corals in there yet?
If its fish only in there.. Don't worry about PH. Don't listen to the petstore and try to adjust or control PH by adding chemical to it. The PH will go up and down and you will be chasing it with chemical in hand until you go nut and still can't control it. If your tank is properly cycled and you have good skimmer, then your fish won't die because of PH. Now if you have corals in it, then the first most important thing you should worry is the Alkalinity. If you can keep Alk stable within the range of 7-11 (pick any number you like), then your PH will follow and become stable on its own. Once you can keep Alk stable, then start playing with Calcium.
Hope that help a bit.
Bao
If its fish only in there.. Don't worry about PH. Don't listen to the petstore and try to adjust or control PH by adding chemical to it. The PH will go up and down and you will be chasing it with chemical in hand until you go nut and still can't control it. If your tank is properly cycled and you have good skimmer, then your fish won't die because of PH. Now if you have corals in it, then the first most important thing you should worry is the Alkalinity. If you can keep Alk stable within the range of 7-11 (pick any number you like), then your PH will follow and become stable on its own. Once you can keep Alk stable, then start playing with Calcium.
Hope that help a bit.
Bao
OP
OP
fred11
Non-member
thanx for the advice i am new to salt water tanks. i dont have corals or a skimmer and no power head yet buying that today after work ...as soon i seen my fish floating around thats when i knew my fish tank was in trouble. so i tested everyting, only the ph was low and then i added the buffer and everything seems fine now thank u for info
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Moving forward, PH in seawater is controlled by the alk level, and the amount of dissolved Co2.
"buffers" are basically just alk supplements that cost a lot. They can correct things when alk is low, but you really don't want to be dosing stuff without testing levels. Raising alk too high can be at least as bad as having it low...
I would suggest picking up an API alk test kit (cheapest deccent kit, about $10), and you can use baking soda for the alk supplement (about 50x cheaper, works just as well).
Also not a bad idea to ask here about your equipment purchases before actually buying. Nearly all of us have made some costly mistakes in initial equipment purchases, we can help you avoid that
What store(s) are you using? Some are FAR better than others, we can help with that as well.
"buffers" are basically just alk supplements that cost a lot. They can correct things when alk is low, but you really don't want to be dosing stuff without testing levels. Raising alk too high can be at least as bad as having it low...
I would suggest picking up an API alk test kit (cheapest deccent kit, about $10), and you can use baking soda for the alk supplement (about 50x cheaper, works just as well).
Also not a bad idea to ask here about your equipment purchases before actually buying. Nearly all of us have made some costly mistakes in initial equipment purchases, we can help you avoid that
What store(s) are you using? Some are FAR better than others, we can help with that as well.
Right,
TI has some good employees (seek out the younger ones), and they carry a lot of livestock and dry goods, but the dry goods tend to be WAY overpriced. A good store in some ways, but double check prices before buying any significant equipment, I've seen pumps and such marked twice the price that some other stores sell them for.
Where are you coming from? Skiptons in boston is well worth the trip, CRA in seekonk if your south a bit, or there is a nice cluster of a few stores in salem nh if your up north a bit.
TI has some good employees (seek out the younger ones), and they carry a lot of livestock and dry goods, but the dry goods tend to be WAY overpriced. A good store in some ways, but double check prices before buying any significant equipment, I've seen pumps and such marked twice the price that some other stores sell them for.
Where are you coming from? Skiptons in boston is well worth the trip, CRA in seekonk if your south a bit, or there is a nice cluster of a few stores in salem nh if your up north a bit.
