Cali Kid Corals

Controlling pH via dosing San Pellegrino

r0ck0

r0ck0

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So my pH seems to get pretty high by the time the lights are about to go off. Just for giggles I tossed a little San Pellegrino mineral water into the tank and it dropped the pH from 8.4 to 8.3. My pH doesn't drop below 8.0 at night and only gets to 8.4 after 9 hours of light. So I was thinking of just dropping back the light to 8 hours or maybe less. After all its 250w metal halide on a 17 gallon tank, so its plenty of light, rite?

Do you think the light is on too long causing the high pH late in the photoperiod? Also would my dosing of seltzer water be bad for short term pH lowering, any long term consequences?

Thanks
 
8.4 is no issue what so ever. many tanks hit 8.5 with 0 repercussions. mine hits it every single day.
 
Unless you pH is 8.6 or over I wouldn't worry about it.

8 hours is fine for light cycle IMO, AFA dosing San Pellegrino long term, I don't see an issue with it, however you may get a pm from our president (cwolfus) about seltzer water abuse and how you need to use store brand club soda as San Pellegrino is a sacred beverage.
 
Well ok, how about this then?

I get an ORP probe for my controller and start dosing hydrogen peroxide to control ORP? Do you think its better or worse than an oxygen or ozone reactor?

This is all hypothetical and don't plan on doing it, just wondering what you guys think. I think ORP is a insignificant measure of a reef tanks health (yes/no/maybe?). Also I'm not fond of controlling ORP because it usually ends up killing micro organisms in the water which is more a detriment then the benefit of having a high or controlled ORP level. (yes/no/maybe?)

Only reason I thought of this was from the last bar meeting when Justin was speaking about dipping corals in a solution of H202.
 
I saw a guy using Skyy vodka and about blew a gasket, I even considered drinking the whole thing myself so he'd have to go and get the cheap stuff, I'm glad I didn't though :D
 
r0ck0 said:
Only reason I thought of this was from the last bar meeting when Justin was speaking about dipping corals in a solution of H202.
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The peroxide discussion stemmed from a conversation Justin and I had earlier in the day about mounting surfaces being a vector for algae, his idea gets two birds stoned at the same time, however, be very careful with SPS stuff, I've been playing with some excess stock since I have AEFW and don't want to trade any sticks currently and they really don't like it too much.

AFA dosing it into your system, I just can't see the benefits outweighing the potential ill that is present.
 
Just curious even though I am not an ozone fan, what would you recommend for controlling ozone dosage Matt?
 
Well I'm glad we are all on the same page when it comes to San Pellegrino. I like it on the rocks with a dash of torani raspberry syrup. I just happened to have a case on hand from costco, so I used it to break my pH. :LOL:
 
GreshamH said:
Just curious even though I am not an ozone fan, what would you recommend for controlling ozone dosage Matt?
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Sorry, I misspoke a bit--ORP is useful for controlling ozone dosage on a minute to minute basis but TRO (Total Residual Oxidants, mostly bromine derivatives) is a more important parameter that ultimately should be guiding the dosage. It is TRO, NOT ORP, that kills/injures animals. The two parameters do not correlate.

This PP by Andy Aiken of the National Aquarium explains it quite thoroughly:
http://www.aqualitysymposium.org/ppts/chemicalprocesses/SMITH%20Ozone%20dosing%20and%20control.PPT
 
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