Tank PH

[abe77901]

What is the proper ph to keep a reef tank (sps). I have read different things here and on RC and was wondering what most people keep theirs.

[GaryP]

To be honest, I rarely test my pH. If your alkalinity is where it needs to be, your pH will be OK. To answer your question though, I would say that 7.8-8.2 is good. Natural seawater is in the 8.1-8.2 range.

[Thunderkat]

I have aragonite sand in my tank and it always stays at 8.2 unless I turn the lights off for extended periods of time (wastes build up and make tank more acidic. Thats the only thing that is good I guess in my tank is pH.

I don't know though, I bought some mushroom coral from Alex (my first corals) and 2 snails and they are all still alive. Alex gave me some pointers. Hooray for living residents!

[GaryP]

I have aragonite sand in my tank and it always stays at 8.2 unless I turn the lights off for extended periods of time (wastes build up and make tank more acidic. Thats the only thing that is good I guess in my tank is pH.

Its not just the waste acids building up. Carbon Dioxide is produced by algae at night when they aren't photosynthesizing. The same when the lights are off. This is the basis of the reverse cycle lighing on a fuge. Carbon dioxide is converted to carbonic acid in water. A mature aragonite bed, by itself, will not maintain pH. It becomes coated with bacteria and other stuff like phosphates so that it no longer acts as a buffer.