PH problems

[sampsonndelila]

I have a low PH problem in my tank. Once before I put in alot PH-up. it raised the level, but now I am down to 7.4 or so again. I taked to Gabe and he told me how high Nitrates could cause that so I am in the middle of a water change today. I noticed during my change here that my tap water is reading exactly the same as my take. I tested it on both my test kits. I need to raise the PH what do we think the best way to raise the PH safely?

[Europhyllia]

do you buffer your top off water (either with pH buffer or kalkwasser)?
Otherwise of course regular tap water will be around neutral (7) pH.
Food being metabolized in the tank also contributes to it getting lower over time.
Completely normal
If you replace the evaporated water with kalkwasser the pH will be high in the make up water anyway. If you don't use kalk you could simply buffer your freshwater. Reef Buffer by seachem will work better than Marine Buffer if you have a lot of corals/inverts to feed.
What's your Alkalinity though? If your alkalinity is high but your pH is low you may have to find a way to get O2 in and CO2 out.
Here's a very informative link:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

[sampsonndelila]

My tank is a FOWLER so I don't check for thos things. I guess I should. Alkalinity? I have no idea. But i guess I could buffer the water before I complete my water change. i think i should raise it slowly not to hurt fish, right?

[Europhyllia]

Hm. Don't FOWLR's do top off water (freshwater)? I mean fish don't want to end up with super high salinity either right?
I'd buffer it up slowly in the main tank and then buffer your top off water in the future.

[sampsonndelila]

Yes I do fresh water top off.

[Bill S]

1) check your test kit

2) have a LFS check your water. Remember the sample must have no air in it.

3)Iif you are still low, put kalk into your topoff water. You can also dose anhydrous baking soda (bake baking soda at 350 for an hour or 2 - drives off the CO2 which will lower the pH).

[sampsonndelila]

?? How would you have a sample with no air in it? I have always just used a Tupperware container.

[ErikH]

Take a ziploc, put it in your tank. Collect your water inside the bag, then sink the bag into the water. That will push the air completely out.

[JLiu]

?? How would you have a sample with no air in it? I have always just used a Tupperware container.

That works just submerge the whole container in the tank and don't go off-roading (shake it up)on the way to the fish store

[sampsonndelila]

Got it thanks, I never knew you shouldn't have air in that.