PH & Overfeeding

[vteel]

Does overfeeding cause the PH to go down? My PH was at 8.4 for the longest time, now since I have added a Clown Fish and Anemone, my PH has gone down to 8.1-8.2. I am obviously feeding more often now that I have them, am I overfeeding, and if so, is that what is causing my PH drop?

I haven't done a water change since my cycle completed. My readings have been perfect (aside from the PH) for well over a month so I didn't see a reason for a water change. Should one be done anyway?

I give my clown 1 - 1 1/2 cubes a day and the Anemone 1-2 pieces of dried Krill a day. My feather dusters get what's left from the cube and I feed me eel Krill or Silver Sides every other day.

75 Gallon tank

Thanks for the help!

VTEEL

 

[fsn77]

You give your clown 1 - 1.5 cubes of what per day? Frozen food cubes (mysis, brine shrimp, etc.)? You may be overfeeding, especially if you see uneaten food in your tank. Or, you have a very happy clean-up crew stuffing themselves on the leftovers. I feed our entire 90g tank 1 cube of frozen mysis, frozen cyclops, or frozen plankton every other day (rotating schedule), which feeds our pair of clowns, 2 rabbitfish, and 2 small gobies. Our rabbitfish get a strip of nori everyday, also, which the clowns will pick at from time to time.

Water changes not only remove unwanted chemicals (nutrients, organics, etc.), but replenish trace elements that help maintain overall water chemistry.

What is your alkalinity (KH)?

There's many possible reasons for your pH drop (although yours isn't that low at the moment). This article should be useful:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

 

[vteel]

Cubes of frozen food (krill, squid, etc.)

I have never tested my KH. What is the KH?

I think I'll do a water change this weekend since I haven't done one since my tank cycled.

Thanks for your help!

VTEEL

 

[Pallen81]

Does overfeeding cause the PH to go down? I am obviously feeding more often now that I have them, am I overfeeding, and if so, is that what is causing my PH drop?

I haven't done a water change since my cycle completed. My readings have been perfect (aside from the PH) for well over a month so I didn't see a reason for a water change. Should one be done anyway?
VTEEL

Hey Vteel... yes overfeeding can cause pH to drop. Over time fish poop/pee, uneaten food, nutrient buildup cause pH to drop. this is just a natural progression of tanks. These organics are acidic and over the past month these organics have increased thus lowering your pH.

Your should be testing for Alkalinity as well as pH. Alkalinity is basically a buffer for your pH. It's a measure of how well your tank can maintain a healthy stable pH.

I highly recommend you start doing weekly or at the very least - bi weekly water changes. Over time, the trace elements that are essential for a healthy marine tank get consumed by fish, live rocks, algae, etc etc in your tank. When you do water changes you are helping to take out Nitrate from your tank water and adding new trace elements back into your system. These elements will cause better growth in animals, coraline algae growth, etc. It's only a good thing!

When you say your readings have been perfect... what tests have you been doing?