PH

[m007]

I guess you all figured out that I just tested my water. My PH has dropped from the usual 8.2-8.4 range to 7.8-8.0. The only testable perameters that have changed in the past 14 days are SG 1.023 to 1.0245 and calcium from 450 to just above 500. Would any of those changes have affected my PH? Last water change was 20% 9 days ago. I begun to buff up slowly. Should I be adding a buffer on a regular basis or should I buff only as required?

 

[Fishieness]

test you ALK and Mg before you think of adding buffers
also, proper O levels from enough surface agitation, flow, or a protein skimmer will help if youd ont already have them.

 

[mikelush78]

The Way I understand ph is this:
PH is effected by alkalinity which is affected by calcium.

If you calcium is high then I am sure it will effect you alkalinity by making that low, which will affect you ph by making that low.
If your calcium is at 400, then chances are your alk will be at 3, and ph will be at 8.3 (My 90 gallon tests came out to that this weekend) If my calcium goes down lets say...
Then my alk can rise and ph will rise as well...

Make sense... To be honest I could be wrong here but in my short experience that is my conclusion put in the simplest of definition...