PH PH PH is too low!!!!

[shmeLLyfisch]

Hey guys my 20 gal nano is doing great. 5 weeks into the cycle. I used 40 lbs. live sand and 30 lbs. uncured live rock. PH is 7.4 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 10. I have one damsel (and scared for his life) 6 hermies and 2 turbos. I have done 1 water change. I am also using a buffer (2 weeks) and have used 2 packs of the 8.2 stuff. and no change in PH. Someone tell me why!!!!!!

[impur]

What is your alk and calcium levels? These are related to pH and could be the source of the pH problems. Have you tested alk and calcium? How about SG?

[Justin Cabibi]

Dripping Kalkwasser will increase the PH as well as increase calcium levels

[loren]

I use to have the same problem I would buff and buff and buff and the ph was not getting any better.
the store people told me to use the lqweed buffer and the powder at the same time, and the results are amaising PH at 8.4 the next day.

on my new tank I still buff daily if not it goes down on the days that I don't buff.
here is what I use for my tanks. Kent Pro Buffer dKH
the lqweed and Kent superbuffer-dKH the powder.

[kuma119]

Are you surface skimming? I had the same problem (ph 7.8) all the time. I tried chemicals and everything else that is known to man kind.Then I made a surface skimmer from an old plastic box and glued it to my filter and the ph is 8.1 all the time.

[SPANKYSREEF]

I agree with kuma....If you do not have proper water surface movement it will result in poor oxygen exchange...resulting in a low PH...HTH

[typemismatch]

If you Alk is wrong you can't change the ph, simple fact - easiest way to increase ph is add Kalkwasser. (when you get your alk in the right range)

-c