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  | backwards32   Guest
 
   
   
 Joined: September 17 2010
 Location: Kaysville
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 Points: 1222
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: PH and Alkalinity levels Posted: October 20 2010 at 11:20pm
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   How important is it to keep PH and alkalinity levels.  I was getting my water tested the other day at the fish store and  the lady said my PH and alkalinity was low.  she tried to sell me some addatives to raise PH.  it was 7.99 and same with the alkalinity thing.  I ddint buy it cause i have had my tank running for a year and never worried about it.  anyone know?
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  | TriggerHappy   Paid Member
 
   
   
 Joined: August 20 2003
 Location: SoJo, UT
 Status: Offline
 Points: 2688
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 20 2010 at 11:37pm | 
 
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   Fish only or corals?  If fish only, I watch pH.  If reef, I watch Alk/Ca/Mg and am not too concerned about pH.
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     210 gallon Mixed Reef 
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  | badfinger   Guest
 
   
 
 Joined: May 18 2009
 Location: Murray, UT
 Status: Offline
 Points: 2079
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 21 2010 at 7:45am | 
 
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   If your calcium and alk is in correct your ph should stay pretty stable... I have my controller watch my ph, then I only test for alk/cal once a month or so and it has never been off. But I do, do regular water changes,and use kalk
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  | backwards32   Guest
 
   
   
 Joined: September 17 2010
 Location: Kaysville
 Status: Offline
 Points: 1222
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 21 2010 at 9:31am | 
 
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   humm.  ok is there alternatives for raising ca/mg/ and alklalinity.  i have coral and fish.  
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  | Mark Peterson   Paid Member
 
   
   
 Joined: June 19 2002
 Location: Murray
 Status: Offline
 Points: 21436
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 21 2010 at 9:38am | 
 
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You were wise not to buy the stuff to raise pH. I cannot tell you how many times we've seen hobbyists damage their reef by trying to raise pH with additives. There are several better ways to deal with pH that we can go over later. As was said already, if the tank has good Alkalinity, the pH follows, so no need to worry about pH. 
 The "Reefkeeping Tips" link below would be very useful reading for you. It should answer your questions. The info about Alkalinity and Calcium is a few posts down into the thread.
 
 Can you post a pic of the tank here? We could give you further help if we see something out of the ordinary. If no pic, please describe the tanks filtration.
 
 
 Edited by Mark Peterson - October 21 2010 at 9:43am
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     Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member   | 
 
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  | backwards32   Guest
 
   
   
 Joined: September 17 2010
 Location: Kaysville
 Status: Offline
 Points: 1222
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 21 2010 at 2:28pm | 
 
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   Ok i have a 55 gallon tank with probably a 20 gallon sump.  it has a sock in one chamber,  some chato in the next,  and then the pump.    I tried to put pictures on but they are too big
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  | Lewy   Guest
 
   
 
 Joined: April 13 2010
 Location: Bountiful
 Status: Offline
 Points: 995
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 21 2010 at 5:40pm | 
 
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   Use photobucket for posting pics.
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     40 gal w/ 20 sump
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  | backwards32   Guest
 
   
   
 Joined: September 17 2010
 Location: Kaysville
 Status: Offline
 Points: 1222
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 21 2010 at 11:10pm | 
 
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      this is my sump  
   and here is my tank | 
 
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  | Mark Peterson   Paid Member
 
   
   
 Joined: June 19 2002
 Location: Murray
 Status: Offline
 Points: 21436
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: October 22 2010 at 8:36am | 
 
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   Sorry, I don't know how to get to those pics. If you would like to email them to [email protected]  I'll post them here. Did you read the thread linked below?
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     Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member   | 
 
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