Low Ph, Low Dkh, Normal Calcium.

[kilgore33]

Have a 90 Gallon Tank w Sump, 80 lbs of Cured Live Rock, Some soft corals, Inverts and Fish. My water readings have been pretty stable until this week. My pH has been slowly dropping as has my dK. pH from8.2 to 7.9, dK from 8 to 4.5, Calcium still between 420-440. Have had these results confirmed at my local LFS. Added an airstone to my sump to allow better gas exchange (The Tank has a glass cover). I had bought the Bioic two component Calcium Buffer system about two months ago but think I used it incorrectly because it killed two fish after the first night (Or I killed them). Did two 5 gallon partial water changes monday and another 5 gallon today. Started adding the Alkilinity component of the Bionic Monday daily and bought Seachem Buffer and started using it today. Any suggestions?

How do you reach a happy medium between adding a buffer, adding calcium and performing partial water changes? Seems like you could end up chasing your tail.

 

[ziouxpioux]

Have a 90 Gallon Tank w Sump, 80 lbs of Cured Live Rock, Some soft corals, Inverts and Fish. My water readings have been pretty stable until this week. My pH has been slowly dropping as has my dK. pH from8.2 to 7.9, dK from 8 to 4.5, Calcium still between 420-440. Have had these results confirmed at my local LFS. Added an airstone to my sump to allow better gas exchange (The Tank has a glass cover). I had bought the Bioic two component Calcium Buffer system about two months ago but think I used it incorrectly because it killed two fish after the first night (Or I killed them). Did two 5 gallon partial water changes monday and another 5 gallon today. Started adding the Alkilinity component of the Bionic Monday daily and bought Seachem Buffer and started using it today. Any suggestions?

How do you reach a happy medium between adding a buffer, adding calcium and performing partial water changes? Seems like you could end up chasing your tail.

what is the chemistry of the exchange water before adding the salt? I have never gotten into adding anything and I do a 10% water exchange every two weeks. But the ph and kh of my tap water, (from my well) is quite high naturally. I also have no phosphates in my well water that is of any concern so I am not having to use RO water so that helps me. I know I am not much help, but I think the place to start is your chemistry on your exchange water. And really regular water exchanges of at least 20% every week or two weeks depending on the livestock in your tank. Of course there are those who are use to additives, I was never one who wanted to get into the fine balancing act. Karen Campbell

 

[SkiFletch]

Easiest way to correct low KH like this is with the addition of sodium bicarbonate (aka baking SODA). Adding it to a high-flow area of the tank, and/or sump (or in your case around the airstone) will help greatly.

Try this Reef Chemistry Calculator to find out how much baking soda you'll need. Best to figure it out and add it say half at a time.

HTH

 

[johnnyjtaylor]

Have you measured the magnesium level in your tank? ph,dKh and calcium are never going to be right if your magnesium is low, it needs to be 1200-1400ppm.

You may find reading this article very helpful.

Johnny