You are more than likely have the same problem many are having. It has been hot out and
air conditioners on. This causes CO2 to build up in the house/apt, which lowers the pH, do
to high room air CO2. CO2 will drop your pH no matter what your Alk is. Open a couple of
windows and direct a fan to blow out room air and pull in outside air. The next day the pH
will probably be back were it was. You can also start a kalk drip, if needed, as kalk
"eats" up/reacts with CO2.

Ca(OH)2 + H2O=== Ca++ + 2OH

2OH + 2CO2 ===. 2HCO3- buffer ( bicarbonate)

--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

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wrote in message ...
:
: Hello;
:
:
: I've got a 210 gallon reef tank with a PH running between 7.8 -8.0. The
: alkalinity is near the top, around 3.0 or so. Any parameters I should be
: looking at that could affect this? Everything seems to be doing pretty good and
: that includes fish
: (Naso, Purple, Sailfin, Clown, Hippo tangs & foxface which are on the large
: side, 5-9 inches, a madarin dragonet and 4 gobies (2 fire, dragon and diamond.)
: Corals are 4 clams and mostly softer corals such as leathers, colt,
: mushrooms, hammer, cups, pagodas, finger, foxglove, etc....
:
: the tank has a deep sand bed and probably 225 pounds of very mature live
: rock with alot of coraline algea
: 55 gallon sump
: mag 24 & mag 12 main pumps (about 3000 gph circulation)
: Aqua C 180 protein skimmer
: 3 mag 12 pumps for internal circulation
: 750w 10k MH
: 960w VHO
:
: nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and phosphate seem fine
:
: I use an aquacontroller jr for temperature control (among other things)
: and tank stays at a constant 80 degrees.
:
: It was running between 8.1 and 8.3 and can't figure out why the dip. Any
: sugestion welcome
:
:
:
: thanks
:
: Bob
:
:
:
: