[Drigo72]

I have read that for salt water a ph range of 7 to 8.2 is good, is that true? do you really need to maintain a 8.2 ph level which what they say is ideal. my ph range fron 8 to 8.1...

I alse read somewhere that some aquarist reef hobbyist use a certain kind of baking soda to increase the ph level? is this safe ? if yes how do you use it?

thanks

[BubbaWPB]

It depends on what you are keeping and how sensitive it is to pH changes... 8.0 - 8.1 is a little on the low side, but if it is stable in that range, you might get away with it. 8.2-8.3 on a consistent level is "ideal".

Baking soda (Arm & Hammer) can be used to increase the pH once in a while, but I suggest using a marine buffer since in addition to bicarbonate, the marine buffers contain other important anions in appropriate levels - borate, sulfate, carbonate, etc. Also, you can overdose your tank on baking soda and drive the the pH too high. The marine buffers are often mixed so that if you accidentally add too much, the pH won't spike.

All that being said, start with a teaspoon per 50 gallons of water - dissolve it in a cup or two of RO/DI water. Add it slowly in a high-flow area of your tank (over a few minutes). Retest the pH about 30 minutes later.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Drigo72

I have read that for salt water a ph range of 7 to 8.2 is good, is that true?

No, that's NOT true.

As BubbaWPB has already said, 8.2-8.3 would be "ideal." A range of 8.0-8.4 is good. A range of 7.9-8.5 is acceptable.

[leebca]

I've gone ahead and moved this thread to the Saltwater (Fish-Only) Aquariums Forum.

You didn't mention, but posting in this Forum (Marine Fish: Care, Health and Disease Treatment Forum, where this thread was) would tend to make one think that you are just referring to fishes. If fish is what you are concerned about regarding pH, then I can happily answer that large Angelfishes and most Tangs prefer a pH of 8.3 to 8.4. Butterflyfishes and most dwarf Angelfishes can handle down to 8.0 comfortably, but not preferably. Other fishes vary in between, but most groups have a preference. A 'happy' compromise would be to keep the pH at 8.3

Most aquarists don't realize just how a small change in the pH scale makes for a large change in 'acid concentration.' The difference between 8.2 and 8.4 is very significant to almost all fishes. So when there is a change in pH of this (what appears to be small) magnitude, the fish is severely stressed.

I have seen fishes 'collapse' during a large water change when the pH difference between tank water and new salt water was less than 0.20 pH units. Aquarists usually underestimate the significance of what appears to be a small number difference, on their fishes.

[leebca]

Altering the pH needs to be done with consideration of other factors.

The relationship between Calcium, Alkalinity, and (to a lesser extent) Magnesium to pH control is not that easy for the beginner aquarist unless you have some high school or college chemistry.

Don't let the following articles intimidate you. There are parts to them that are easier to understand, AND there are parts of them that answer your question about adjusting pH:

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
and
Low pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Ask if you have questions!

Good luck!