pH Help

[Bill S]

As most of you know, I'm fighting (losing) an ongoing battle with bryopsis. With that in mind, I've elevated the Mg and I'm trying to get/keep the pH between 8.5 & 8.6. That's the problem:

Ca: 370
Mg: 1620 (1600 is the target for bryopsis remediation)
Alk: 18.6 (ouch!) - that's 6.6 meq/l
pH: 8.1 (am) - 8.3 (pm)

I have a Ca reactor and a Kalk reactor. Kalk reactor has been iffy - so I've been dosing Kalk with a couple of gallons of RO/DI water a day.

With that insanely high level of Alk, I'm thinking of turning off the Ca reactor? Any other thoughts as to how I can get the pH up and maintain it?

Yeah, I know. I'm supposed to know all of this.

TIA,

[Bill S]

I THINK it's a CO2 problem. I've opened up the cabinet doors top and bottom, and turned off the Ca reactor for now. We'll see if this helps out any.

[jc]

Where does the effluent enter the tank? Can you make it go into the skimmer so that the excess co2 dissolves out?

[aquasport24]

Are you sure the co2 is coming from the tank and not inside the house? but i thought
exessive co2 would bring the PH down and your tank shows 8.1-8.3. which is at a good level.

[Bill S]

I NEED the pH to be above 8.5 - to kill off the bryopsis. JC, the skimmer picks up from the sump area where the effluent goes - but obviously doesn't get it all. Ace suggested to dump it into my fuge - which I'll probably do when I turn it back on. pH is still 8.2-8.3. I've been running fans, doors open, etc...

[SoLiD]

Ummmm.... What about a Kalk reactor controlled by a pH probe in the tank???

[Bill S]

I've been using a kalk reactor for all topoff water - but alk has skyrocketed and pH isn't really rising.

[hobogato]

maybe you were running your calcium reactor drip rate too high. that would explain the elevated alkalinity and low pH. the calcium reactor will usually increase alkalinity more than calcium, and the kalk will increase calcium more than alkalinity (i think) together - at the correct rates, they should balance out.