[sarha]

does anyone buffer there topoff water if so with what? lately my ph has been stabe at 8.0 and i can get it to 8.3 with a product called reef buffer but i an adding it all the time which increases my alkalinity which doesn't need raising. what do i do to maintain a ph of 8.3 with out effecting alkalinity

[Krazy]

Are you running the refugium light the opposite 12hrs of the display lights or 24/7 ?

Also what time of the day are you testing ph ?

[jvharding]

Kent RO Prep and Marc Wiess RO Vital are added before topping off! Kent DKH Buffer is added to the tank every 2 weeks.

[Krazy]

I've used kent superbuffer dkh myself, its supposed to buffer ph while keeping dkh under control..

[sarha]

yes i run the lights opposit and thanks for the info for the other products i will definally be tring them any other sugestions? I've been testing in the evening when the ph should be testing the highest right?

[Krazy]

Originally Posted by sarha

yes i run the lights opposit and thanks for the info for the other products i will definally be tring them any other sugestions? I've been testing in the evening when the ph should be testing the highest right?

Yes

Light and testings times are correct

just an easy thing to rule out..

8.0 isnt all that bad.. But I understand wanting to raise it

Whats your CA and ALK ??

[Krazy]

I read somewhere that 90% of all low ph is due to low arriation...

Chemistry and the Aquarium

an article on Ph.. I hope it can help

[sarha]

that's just it my chemistry is going haywire my ca is at 360 - 380 mg/l and i can't get that to rise eighter the more i treat my ph problem the hight my dkg gets its at 12 i suppose my calcium won't test right till i get my ph under control today i plan to order diferant ph buffers and see if that works and as we all know with low ph come nuscence algea particularly red slime which has attacked my blue ridge coral although not enough to harm it much but i don't want to let it get to that point. i am wandering now that you mentioned low ariation if i am losingit in my refugium because of the low flow into and out of because laterly the macro algea have been dieing off in there i thought it was loss of nutrients but now i'm thinking differantly i think i will put an air stone in there and see what happens. any thoughts

[Krazy]

You could do an air stone in the refugium or a low flow powerhead placed mid-level pointed towards the surface (maxi jet 400 or something like that) You could also add more flow in the display...

Also how old is your refugium bulb ??

I noticed a die off of my macro about 3-4 weeks ago, I suspected my bulb as it was semi old, so I ordered this bulb here and well my macro has NEVER looked so good and green, it made a HUGE difference, I'm probably going to have to prune it back in another week or so..

Link :

PAR38 Reflector 19 Watt / 5100K: Light Bulbs Etc, Inc.

This is also a good choice and cheaper, I prefer the reflector and the shell on the other bulb, easy to clean the salt-creep off. 23 Watt 10,000 Hour Compact Fluorescent 5000K Full Spectrum

Also noticing now that your CA is lower and the ALK is HIGH... (you dont want a precipation event)

You should check your magniseium (sp?) that is also a role player in PH, CA, and ALK...

Hope all of this is helping

[sarha]

thanks krazy my pc light bulb has abought 6 months use on it also i been adding reef complete in tring to bring up my ca levels with no sucsess i am starting to get woried that something is terribly wrong so to day i have a seies of waterchanges planed when all else fails do a water change!

[Krazy]

Originally Posted by sarha

thanks krazy my pc light bulb has abought 6 months use on it also i been adding reef complete in tring to bring up my ca levels with no sucsess i am starting to get woried that something is terribly wrong so to day i have a seies of waterchanges planed when all else fails do a water change!

Diluation is the solution !!

[sarha]

in the past five years i can't say how many times a waterchange has saved my reefs life!

[Krazy]

What brand of salt do you use Sarha?

I use Instant Ocean

I've had good luck with it aside from the low calcium

[sarha]

i use the same

[sarha]

ps thanks for the link to the ph article it was very helpful

[Krazy]

No problem !!!

I think it'll help me one day as well