Low P.h In 24g Nano!

[sbreydin]

Hi
I am am newbie to marine i have kept freshwater tropical for 2 years now, i must of thought i hadnt enough frustration in my life!!

I recently bought a 24g jbj nano cube. I got it home and built and got the water mixed and into the tank i use pure R.O water that i buy from my lfs. I cycled the water for 2 weeks before adding 10kg Cured Indonesian Live Rock. All was going well and tank started cycling really quickly when rock was added. The tank was showing all good signs but now for no apparent reason the P.H has crashed to 7.6 it was at 8.1. Do any of you more experienced guys out there know exactly what are the right steps for me to take to rectify this???

I have already done a 20% water change on Friday the water that i put into the tank had p.h of 8.25 and this seemed to make little difference. I have ordered a calcium test kit from web as i have never tested for this.

The Live rock has been in the tank now 2 1/2 weeks now and these are my test results today

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0.05
Nitrates 2.5
S.G 1.025
ALK 1.9
Temp 25c

My ammonia has been down to zero now 4-5 days but nitrites still hangin in there with slight reading of 0.05.

It has been only over past 7-10 days P.H has slipped gradually.
At the moment there is no livestock in this tank. I am currently researching my C.U.C and i hope that i will be able to move forward and get them introduced into the tank. I have a large buildup of Hair Algae and also diatoms all over my sand and rocks and now on the glass so would like to get the C.U.C to work. I have lights on 10 hours everyday and moonlights on at night i always test before lights out and usually around the same time give or take half hour.
Will adding a C.U.C soon only add to my problems?? or will it help to correct this issue I know that i can use buffer/ bi-carb to get the P.H up but dont want to be starting to do that unless really necessary.Especially now as the tank is only a new setup!

I have added a 600lph eheim pump and placed it in chamber one . Above that pump in chamber 1 i have Rowa-phos with a layer of filter wool above and below it to stop leaching into tank. In compartment 2 i have just got carbon and compartment 3 i have the stock pump. All the levels are fine in the back compartments.I also placed a nano koralia which circulates 900lph in the tank so there is a really good flow in the tank.

Is there any suggestions of something i could place in the back compartments to help with the p.h

I have made up some more sw tonight plan to make a 10% water change tomorrow evening and maybe a 10% change every other night to see if the P.H will rise i dont understand why it wont as is 8.25 p.h i am boggled by this it is so much more work than my freshwater tank. Ohh well the rewards will far outstrip the fw, i am goin to keep tellin myself that!!
Any suggestions??? they will be much appreciated

Will post pics of tank later

Thanks

Stephen

 

[SkiFletch]

ALK 1.9

What units? meq? other?

If that's in meq, that's WAY too low and likely a large portion of your pH problem. The three most common reasons for low pH are high CO2 as a result of poor respiration, low alkalinity, and imbalances in organic processes in a new tank. I'd reccomend reading through some of Crazy Fishes recent posts in this very section as he's been having the same problems. I'd re-type it all, but since I just replied to him, perhaps you could benefit as well

 

[sbreydin]

ALK 1.9

What units? meq? other?

If that's in meq, that's WAY too low and likely a large portion of your pH problem. The three most common reasons for low pH are high CO2 as a result of poor respiration, low alkalinity, and imbalances in organic processes in a new tank. I'd reccomend reading through some of Crazy Fishes recent posts in this very section as he's been having the same problems. I'd re-type it all, but since I just replied to him, perhaps you could benefit as well

Thanks Skifletch yes it is in meq per litre i will test again around lunch and see if it is still the same i will take your advice and look through Crazy Fishes posts and hopefully will help to rectify p.h do you think that the introduction of C.U.C would be bad thing?

stephen

 

[BigC]

Hi sbreydin,
If its any concellation to know I too was having the same problem (8.4 in newly mixed water) Frequent (daily) waterchanges made little difference. (just wasting my salt) All my water params were within normal boundaries. I have been keeping Freshies for over 35 years and yes this is a whole new ball game to me also. Ski recommended more surface aggitation as certain algaes were photosynthising. You may want to try that. The pH now is 8.2 which not perfect but I'm happy with it. I still get hair algae (not that much nowdays but in the beginning you'd have needed a brush) even with Rowaphos and RO water. I clear the algae periodically with a toothbrush (light scrub rockwork). On the topic of CUC, if you are going to add hermit crabs then go for Blue Legs. I know they get some bad press but they are much more industrious than the reds. Just have some empty shell in the tank if you plan on having snails aswell.
I've been going now for quite a few months and still no corals or fish. (frustrating isn't it)
Anyway I hope this was of some help.
You'll get there in the end
Regards
BigC

 

[sbreydin]

Hi sbreydin,
If its any concellation to know I too was having the same problem (8.4 in newly mixed water) Frequent (daily) waterchanges made little difference. (just wasting my salt) All my water params were within normal boundaries. I have been keeping Freshies for over 35 years and yes this is a whole new ball game to me also. Ski recommended more surface aggitation as certain algaes were photosynthising. You may want to try that. The pH now is 8.2 which not perfect but I'm happy with it. I still get hair algae (not that much nowdays but in the beginning you'd have needed a brush) even with Rowaphos and RO water. I clear the algae periodically with a toothbrush (light scrub rockwork). On the topic of CUC, if you are going to add hermit crabs then go for Blue Legs. I know they get some bad press but they are much more industrious than the reds. Just have some empty shell in the tank if you plan on having snails aswell.
I've been going now for quite a few months and still no corals or fish. (frustrating isn't it)
Anyway I hope this was of some help.
You'll get there in the end
Regards
BigC

Hi BigC
I am from Northern Ireland also i am from Limavady.Where abouts you from BigC?
I have riderected my powerhead and the nozzle of stock pump to the surface got a bit of aggitation going on now. What do you think if i bought a surface spray bar for my extra pump would this help?
Also got rid of some of the Hair Algae there was quite a lot and maybe would explain how P.H has gone gradually all in the while the algae has been growing more and more. Will try this for few days and see if it make some difference if it does then will maybe invest in the mod for the extra pump.
Bought Turbo Snails today will be with me on Tuesday

Thanks

 

[BigC]

Hi sbreydin,
Born and bred in Lisburn myself but since moved to just outside Craigavon (Magheralin).
Yeah try that more surface aggitation for a while. Obviously there are other factors to this and many other obstacles that you/we will encounter along the way, which I'm sure Skifletch and Stealhealr will guide you/me through as time progresses.
Where do you, or are you shopping for your corals/fish/critters eventually.
Regards
BigC

 

[sbreydin]

Hi sbreydin,
Born and bred in Lisburn myself but since moved to just outside Craigavon (Magheralin).
Yeah try that more surface aggitation for a while. Obviously there are other factors to this and many other obstacles that you/we will encounter along the way, which I'm sure Skifletch and Stealhealr will guide you/me through as time progresses.
Where do you, or are you shopping for your corals/fish/critters eventually.
Regards
BigC

Bought tank from Grosvenor Tropicals Lisburn will be planning to buy most of Livestock from there. I have also been to Exotic Aquatics off Castlereagh Road Belfast they were very helpful and had some nice fish and corals. I am not planning to have many fish in the tank i am more interested in corals maybe have a couple clown fish (nemos) maybe for the little one! Do you know of other places about or people who would be good to contact??

Yes there are some people on this forum whos thread i have read over past 2 months and they really know what they are talking about. That is my reason for posting here to get some info from people with a lot more experience and knowledge than me, instead of just pottering about myself in the dark. As you know yourself not many people in our wee country are interested in sw as they involve to much work. No matter where you go you will always get weirdos like us who are looking for more stress in their lifes . Thanks BigC for the help mate!
Stephen

 

[BigC]

No problem Stephen.
Dont know of any other establishments over here and web orders really do eat into your pocket with P&P.

Just a little addition on the pH front,
Tested tank this morning no lighting pH 7.8....Tested again this afternoon, all light blazing pH 8.2. So I think its photosynthetic.
I've gone and ordered Seachem's Marine buffer.
http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...250g-p-110.html
Just for emergencies
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

CO2's a bear huh guys? Combine that with low alkalinity like the OP has and you can see some really low pH very easily. Just remember, slow and steady wins the race. Adding cleanup crew at this juncture would be OK

 

[sbreydin]

CO2's a bear huh guys? Combine that with low alkalinity like the OP has and you can see some really low pH very easily. Just remember, slow and steady wins the race. Adding cleanup crew at this juncture would be OK

Hi just an update on the ph issue i have noticed just through the surface aggitation that the ph has risen from 7.6 to 8.1 which is a good improvement i have done another 10% water change and seems to be slowly getting there. I have ordered seachem Kalkwazzer as i have been reading some threads by steel saying that he feel this is more benificial in the long term. As i do have a low Alk level then this will also help with this. Rather than just using Marine Buffer. The tank is starting to turn the corner and i have adding a partial c.u.c.

Thanks Ski/ Bigc for all your help.

P.s Will get pic on here very soon.

 

[Musho3210]

are you testing when your light is off?

 

[SkiFletch]

Heh, hope someone else learns from this. Aeration, surface agitation, and gas exchange are exceptionally important in a marine system

 

[sbreydin]

are you testing when your light is off?

No Musho always check ph when lights are on. Normally just before lights out. I find that the ph is always lower in morning when lights have been off. Do you think that reversed lighting would help also with the ph it might help as there wolud be certain amount of natural light during day hours.

Steve

are you testing when your light is off?

No Musho always check ph when lights are on. Normally just before lights out. I find that the ph is always lower in morning when lights have been off. Do you think that reversed lighting would help also with the ph it might help as there wolud be certain amount of natural light during day hours.

Steve

sorry just trying to get use to posting on this forum forgive me !!!!!

 

[steelhealr]

As a reminder..as we commonly discuss here....photosynthesis during the day causes CO2 uptake and release of O2. This raises the pH. At night, this respiration ceases and CO2 reaccumulates, hence, for the most part, pH is usually lower in the AM.

One of the wonderful things about a refugium is that having one offsets this process and stabilizes the tank. When illuminating the refugium opposite the tank lights, respiration continues throughott the night and the CO2 given off in the main aquarium is taken up by the macroalgae in the refugium.

Nature is a wonderful thing. SH

 

[Musho3210]

Nature is a wonderful thing. SH

even better is when you can manipulate it to your own advantage (aka reverse light cycle)