Need to raise Ph a bit - how?

[CMOS]

Howdy All,

I've been having some recent inconvenient issues with nuisance algae so I tested Phos and PH. Phosphates were at about .2-.25 and the Ph is about 7.8. I think the Phos is too high and the PH is too low.

After reading far too much for for my brain to handle, I'm thinking that I may want to raise my Ph a bit to the 8.2-8.4 range in hopes of reducing the Phosphates.

I do have a good skimmer (RL-125) and a small sump with Chaeto algae but again, I've seen a recent elevation of algae growth that I don't like.

Your thoughts on this, and if agreeable, how do you feel about some limewater dosing to raise the PH a bit?

CMOS

[Reefing Madness]

Incorrect theory. Raising your PH will not do anything to your Phosphates. 2 seperate things. You want your Phosphates gone, use RO/DI water, or put GAC, or GFO in a reactor.
How much cheato do you have? Have you cut it back recently? Cutting it back is how you get the nutrients out of the tank. You must be putting Phosphates in your tank is your running a sump with cheato and you still have it.

[CMOS]

RM,

I am using a 5-stage RO/DI water systems, with a TDS meter, so I'm good there. I do regular water changes.

The refugium section itself is very small (~12 x 8 x 10) as the tank is only a 45 gallon. I have NEVER trimmed back the Cheato - didn't know I needed to!

Below is an excerpt from an article I read: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

3. The use of limewater, and possibly other high pH alkalinity supplements, is also a good choice. It can be very inexpensive, and it solves two other big issues for reefkeepers: maintaining calcium and alkalinity. Simply keeping the pH high in a reef aquarium (8.4) may help prevent phosphate that binds to rock and sand from re-entering the water column. Allowing the pH to drop into the 7s, especially if it drops low enough to dissolve some of the aragonite, may serve to deliver phosphate to the water column. In such systems (typically those with carbon dioxide reactors), raising the pH may help."

I have read multiple articles that support this theory - raising PH a bit can help with the Phosphates.

I will cut back on the Chaeto. Any other suggestions?


CMOS

[Reefing Madness]

Nope

[Reefing Madness]

Product Review: Ferrous Oxide Phosphate Removers — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
Chemistry And The Aquarium: Solutions To pH Problems — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

[chrisfont23]

7.8 to 8.4 is a normal range. That also represents a typical day night swing. Adjusting can lead to more problems than it is worth. Try raising alkalinity a bit. I wouldnt do anything drastic. Test consistently too. Night vs night. Day vs day. Not night vs day. Fnally where I am it is winter. Windows closed and no real airflow has a tendency to lower ph all around. Think of your house as a litle co2 chamber with limited air vents in the winter.

[CMOS]

You guys are killing me. Every time I THINK I'm starting to get the hang of this salt water stuff, I get knocked down about 10 pegs. Thanks for the replies. More reading......

[chrisfont23]

You'll find that less is more in this hobby with respect to everything but the price of equipment, where everything is "more"