How do I increase pH without increasing Alk?

How do I increase pH without increasing Alk?! I've added a bubble filter to the sump. It helped a little at first but I can't get it over 7.8ish long term. I even moved the air pump outside the cabinet hoping it would help. The tank is in the center of the house in a very open location and we run our air a lot so there should be plenty of air circulation.

I tried at one point to raise it with baking soda but it sent my KH through the roof! I let it naturally come down and it has been steady ever since. But pH came right back down with it.

Is there anything else I can try? Everything I read says pH should be like 8.1-8.3 (I think).

 

No, not chasing it just noticing that it is consistently low even after water changes. Well I tried raising it the one time but that was it. Other than adding the bubble filter which only raised it slightly.

I usually just use the apex probe but I have checked it against my little battery powered dip stick thing and it was exactly the same. It does fluctuate along a little curve from day to night but that is to be expected.

I was just concerned because I haven't seen anything recommended to be under 8.1 and it dips as low as 7.6 (same as my freshwater tanks) but averages 7.8.

I really don't have a way to run airline tubing outside without leaving a window open and rigging up something over a doorway. Does the air conditioner not bring in outside air? We keep it about 73 usually so it's on a lot.

I also have the fuge light on my chaeto in the sump on an opposite schedule. Should I do something different there? Would adding more algae help? I was actually looking into adding some more.. different kinds.

Are there any other ways to naturally increase pH?

 

How's your water surface breakage at the top of the DT (caused by your power heads)? It is necessary for gas exchange. But like doc says, you've done enough and prob shouldn't chase it especially if everything is surviving and thriving.

 

In the past, I have opened a window that's next to the tank just to get some fresh air in but that stopped with the pollen! Then I was told not to chase numbers and stick to a good pwc schedule and let the numbers fall where they may which creates stability for the inhabitants. Everything is doing great so far...

 

I'd say it's moderate. The return is split and comes out right at the surface. You can see 2 jet marks in the surface. The powerhead a are not continuous so it varies on what they create. The gyre was doing some major movement but I really haven't noticed a difference in pH since it's been off.

I'm not sure stuff is thriving but surviving. Fish and inverts seem fine but I really haven't seen a growth in corals.

And I'm not madly testing everything every day, just noticing the chart on the ph and wondering if I can get a little closer to the target area without doing anything drastic.

I'll try opening a window today just to see if it makes a difference.

 

So opening the front door window (maybe about 15' away from tank) made no difference. Kept it open most of the day.

Anyway, based on a comment in a different forum about pH swings ... would adding some aragonite to my sump help here at all? Or does that just keep the Alk buffered so the pH doesn't dip?

 

Mine runs about 7.8
It's fine. Don't spend any more money trying to augment pH.

 

I have a bag of aragonite I use to buffer KH in my freshwater tanks. My KH in the tap is only about 3 and I have fish that need it harder. Have most of a big bag. Just a thought. Or is my line of thinking wrong here? Would it just keep KH stable without altering pH?

 

refugium can assist in adding O2 but typically a reduction of nutrients is what raises PH. ORP can play a factor but is more complicated than most folks want to deal with. But chasing PH is not typically worth it, stable alk is much more important

 

Simply adding aragonite won't stabilize Alk. It buffers, yes.

 

I don't feel like I'm chasing anything at this point. Was just wondering if there was anything I could "set and forget" that might help. Like adding the bubbler.

And speaking of ORP ... I have ORP on my Apex fusion. It fluctuates a few points back and forth. I figured this was normal. No huge spikes or anything. But then I got to thinking-- I only have 3 probes!!! I fiddled with them all the other day and also looked at what was plugged into the boxes and I have temp, pH and Salinity. (Since they weren't labeled I was trying to figure out which was which) HOW is my ORP even reading anything and how is it fluctuating like a stable tank if there isn't even a probe hooked up?!?!