pH dropped from 8.2 to 7.8

[Qchan]

Hi guys, jus did a run of tests on my tank, nitrate is only at 10, zero ammonia, but my pH has dropped from 8.2 to 7.8. I sense something bad happening, any help explaining how this has happened and what i can do to salvage this situation will greatly help. Thank you all.

[bum]

whats your alkalinity?

did you just drip kalk?

[AlfaRomeo]

Like Bum said, Alk?

Additionally, Ca? Mg?

[Qchan]

Alk? sorry hehe im newbie i used pH test kit to measure acidity, isn't that same as alkanility? ca is 440 last time i tested it. Mg nvr tested b4, so dunnoe. Please explain alkanility and what it does?

[AlfaRomeo]

Alkalinity is the ability of the water to buffer againts PH dips like what you are facing now. Alk should be at least at a KH of 8 to have rather stable PH.

[nicholasloh]

alk also means carbonate hardness rite?

[Qchan]

i have a kH of 9...

[pisces]

I used a SuperBuffer dKH from Kent Marine, it helped stabilise my pH and alkalinity. Its a little bit ex though.

[Eric]

Hi guys, jus did a run of tests on my tank, nitrate is only at 10, zero ammonia, but my pH has dropped from 8.2 to 7.8. I sense something bad happening, any help explaining how this has happened and what i can do to salvage this situation will greatly help. Thank you all.

   

Use washing soda or Seachem marine buffer to boost your DKH to 12 and PH to 8.3

I still have more than 3/4 of this seachem marine buffer cos my ph is always above 8.3, if you interested you can have it for $8, self collect at punggol.

Eric

[weileong]

dK at 8 is perfectly normal. Try increasing the aeration and that should help with the pH swing.

My dk at ard 8 and my pH varies between 8.2x to 8.0x in a 24 hrs period.

Your CR might be dumping in too much CO2 too.

The other possiblity is that you are using a test kit for the pH which shows in inaccurate readings.

[danano]

Did you take the measurements at the same time of day? And did you measure right after feeding?

pH of 7.8-8.2 is not unusual for marine tanks. It's is within acceptable limits.

[aStRoBo|]

different timings also affect the PH..

[shoelevy]

the term alkalinity in chemistry and in marine hobby is diff.

the first refers to ph but the latter refers to hardness of water