Reef Tank pH, benefits of raising saltwater aquarium pH | BRSTV Investigates

Do you think you can grow corals faster with HIGHER pH? Today we find out for sure and from what we see, it looks like you can grow out your tank in nearly HALF the time!
#BRStvInvestigates #BRStv
More awesome experiments from BRStv Investigates!
➡ Higher Alk/Calcium for faster growth? : brs.li/BRStv_HighALK_Test
➡ Testing a Refugium Part I : brs.li/BRStv_RefugiumTesting_...
➡ Testing a Refugium Part II : brs.li/BRStv_RefugiumTest_PartII
➡ Testing a Refugium Part III : brs.li/BRStv_RefugiumTest_Par...
Community Links!
➡ Today's topic on Reef2Reef : brs.li/R2R_FasterGrowth_HigherPH
➡ #AskBRStv Facebook Group : brs.li/AskBRStv_Facebook
➡ BRS R2R Sponsor Page : brs.li/BRS_R2R_Sponsor
Related Reef Gear!
➡ Universal CO2 Scrubber : brs.li/BRS_UniversalCO2_Scrubber
➡ Jumbo CO2 Scrubber : brs.li/BRS_JumboCO2_Scrubber
➡ Co2 Scrubber Media : brs.li/BRS_CO2_ScrubberMedia
Today on BRStv, we have a brand new episode of our series, BRStv Investigates. In this series, we explore popular reefing theories, products, methods, and what the manuals are missing, with a focus on putting them to the test! Stay tuned as we explore even more reef fantasies and reef certainties as we try to dive into common hobby questions and challenge long held ideas in order to make this hobby even more fun and easy!
Legal Stuff
The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications as presented in the video. Aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.

[@solarflare8806]

The investment you guys make to advance knowledge in this hobby and industry are commendable. Thank you for the big $$$ you spend to help us be successful. This truly means a lot to me.

[@GustavoTokoroRiether]

Keep the good job! This investigates series are the best

[@KlimovArtem1]

I love such experiments! Thank you so much.

[@tigheclark6]

Thank you for partnering with brs!!!

[@freemansaquatics5326]

The HBO of reef channels... Enjoyed the video yall all have a good holiday weekend :)

[@ajsreef1034]

Yay another vid :P been waiting

[@BornHandy]

I like the idea of a year or two long trial (like the BRS 160) testing the elevated pH + elements. Would love to see what kind of growth is possible.

[@benspicoreefing2169]

Really good information and testing

[@ou812reefing]

Great information thanks to all at bulk reef supply and everyone that supply’s you’re team with equipment to do this testing keep up the great work 👍👍👍

[@edson.jerez1982]

Awesome video!

[@jeffsreeftank3991]

Nice test guys 👍🏾👍🏾

[@Vdeez]

Heyyyyy that’s my recirculating co2 scrubber thread!

[@Slide-Loc]

Post it here

[@CJSAQUARIUMS]

Awesome idea! better patent it :)

[@RogueAquariums]

Great information Ryan on how successful an elevated ph has an effect on the coral growth. 👍

[@skzion2]

Great video.

[@volteface69]

Très intéressant, merci beaucoup !!! 👏👏👏

[@GalleryAquaticaTV]

LOVE THIS!

[@benny187]

Doesn't a solution of pH 7.8 have roughly 3 times and not 5 times more hydrogen ions than a solution of pH 8.3. The difference is 0.5, but it is a logarithmic scale and therefore the difference is by a factor of 10^0.5 = 3.16ish

[@NerdistAquarist]

I love this geeky stuff!

[@artursm15]

Great video.. what schedule you run on your radions and what intensity??

[@grizfyrfyter]

I use a closed loop CO2 scrubber setup on my system. It does make the media last longer but I have trouble with moisture buildup in the chamber. I ended up having to use two reactor chambers. One to contain moisture and the second for media. Even in this configuration, the media gets wet after a week or so.

[@n8b31z5]

It would be really ineresting to see what happens when you swap the PH levels on the 2 tanks and see if the results swap. I hope on the new tanks you guys look at some of the higher PH values to determine at what point higher PH does not result in higher growth rates. (8.1 - 8.3 - 8.5)

[@KnarBurger]

Just a note on cuc and egg crate. I just set up and evo as a frag qt and I setup the IM frag rack with 1” legs and my cuc can still access all the corals on it. For any sps I’ll just put that rack on top of the rocks I have in the back and everything should be able to get to it still. It’s only when it’s really high up you have an issue with cuc not getting to it.

[@rpeebles]

I used to run a Lifereef skimmer and a BRS CO2 reactor and at first I attempted to recirculate the air from the skimmer cup and you are planning. However, the issue I ran into was when the cup started filling up, the skimmate got sucked into the intake line and then I had skimmate all over the CO2 media. I doubt it lasts as long when it is covered in funk. If you can keep this from happening then it could be worthwhile to try. Thanks for doing these experiments!

[@socalsean3425]

Love BRS

[@TRSCAquatics]

Kalkwasser Reactors are FLYING off the shelf!!!! lol - I'm looking into one myself. I found that since i started closing up my windows during the summer due to cold air escaping my PH is lower than I like and my corals have responded.

[@joeymerrell8585]

I'm in Texas, I completely understand that. Its gonna be a hot summer this year.

[@Slide-Loc]

Love my kalk reactor... 8.35 24x7. I modified mine to use 1 lb at a time and with the brs pharma grade I only have to clean it every 2-3 mo.

[@jamesparrott2073]

First! Love you guys!

[@nickeycostello3553]

Does PH have an effect on the growth of soft corals?

[@_akalman]

Not in the same way that it affects stony corals. The main reason to run a higher PH is that calcification is easier, which doesn’t apply to soft corals. However, it also lets the coral animal itself to be less acidic, which may or may not have an affect on tissue growth.

[@euphyllia6590]

Wow never thought coral growth came down to a concentration gradient

[@burningbaal]

just a nitpick: I'm pretty sure the difference between 7.8 and 8.3 is 3.16x, not 5x...but the point of everything seems solid. Thank you so much for tank trials, they are AWESOME and we (the community) appreciate it!

[@burningbaal]

Just found Benny187 beat me to it...ignore me

[@mozby76]

Another great experiment! The results are compelling! How did the algae outbreak occur in tanks 1 and 3 if the conditions were the same as 2 and 4?

[@BRStv]

That's one we were also trying to find out. In all honesty there was some amount of algae in all four tanks, but those seemed to look the worst. It could also be related to the animals in the tank having more of an appetite than others. :)

[@Bodsky45aol]

I've recently installed a DD Clarisea onto my system.This bit of kit basically made my Protein skimmer redundant, as it suddenly stopped producing its normal amount of skim. Redundant? No. Its taken a new role within the system and because of its aeration qualities its actually increased my PH levels! There has definitely been a stable increase in my PH which sits at bang on at 8.2 24/7

[@rc2300s2r]

Hey there BRStv. I’ve been going back and forth on what temp to run in my tank. Do you have a episode of “Investigates” regarding temp and affect on coral health,growth, and color? There are so many thing that temp affects that has my head spinning. should I aim for a higher temp or stay lower? I know there isn’t a “answer” to this but it’s be cool to see the results and take that to help make up people’s (and mine) minds. Maybe have 3 frags each of sps, lps, softies and some kind of wild card too. Thank you for all the info you’ve given the reefing world!

[@BRStv]

This could be an interesting test to perform! We recommend keeping temperatures at 78 degrees in the tank. It would be cool to experiment with this though. Thanks for the feedback! (:

[@joem6170]

Today i added bicarbonate soda into my seawater tank.. im baffled when my pH of 7.8 went down to 7.4.. its a new fishless cycled tank... help please..

[@karimbasset9913]

I have a question but not related to this video. I have a 55 g barrel which I keep ready to change the water. Is there a good way of preparing this barrel? Like should I add the salt first then water or salt last? And should I add anything to it so when I change the water it doesn’t mess up the setup or changing water doesn’t do that much of a mess? Thanks and thanks for all the great videos.

[@baileyweaver5938]

Add water first, salt second. Spread salt widespread across the surface rather then dumping all at once. Run a circulation fan or pump of some sort to mix salt. Add heater to barrel. Wait 30 minutes or until all salt is dissolved, then check salinity and adjust if needed. After salinity is perfect, test calcium alk mag and ph. Adjust if needed

[@Boosted98gsx]

2:11 pH is the measurement of free hydrogen ions yes, but lower numbers on the scale indicate HIGHER concentrations of them. That's why Hydrochloric acid (HCl) has a low pH, because it has a LOT of hydrogen ions...

[@ghost2k25]

What factors can cause or promote low Alk consumption of corals?

[@Slide-Loc]

Low pH and anything that irritates the coral. If alk and pH are higher but another critical element such as calcium or magnesium are low then it will likely reduce the uptake of alk since those elements are necessary in relative portions.

[@davidlong8509]

cool

[@jimmygreenspan8832]

Cool! I was just thinking about pH today! Does anybody think I should add some soda ash to my freshwater tank as well as my saltwater one? The snails in the freshwater look like their shells are eroding and the pH is pretty low, like 6.5.

[@aquaticspendthrift4228]

Not to fresh water. the swings in ph would be worse than just leaving it at 6.5 however i recomend adding aragonite sand to the filter. That will buffer it as long as the water changes are small.

[@jimmygreenspan8832]

Too late! I already did it, mad man that I am! It wasn't too much, like maybe 1/3 of a tea spoon. Might be the shrimp-ocalypse! Hopefully not though.

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

No matter what i do i cant seem to raise my ph over 8.0, skimmer line outside, even put an air bubble rock on the sump etc. Cant have my windows open since its cold in nyc.

[@BRStv]

Have you tried a supplement like Kalkwasser in conjunction with these methods? This would be a Alkalinity, and Calcium additive that will also elevate pH. Overall if between 7.8-8.4 this is a good range to be in. :)

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Are we really sure pH isn’t also more of a function of the respiratory cycles and activity of the organisms living within our artificial environments. Is there really a difference when the pH varies 0.2-0.4 ? Yes I can see going from 8.5 down to 7.5 could be a problem or vice versa, especially if happens in short period of time. Same with going up from 7.5 to 8.5. I’d bet we can’t narrow it down to just the CO2 in the room. Nor does a small fluctuations mean much.

[@Badboii21]

How is it that my sps are growing fast at 7.8 ph with low PAR using 3 kessil a160 on a 125 g (6foot) tank ?

[@artursm15]

How long is your light schedule ??

[@Badboii21]

About 11 hours

[@atfinthehouse8631]

So really shoot for a pH 8.0 - 8.5

[@alexanderlucas9059]

Is that actually okay to have it go as high as 8.5??

[@ghost2k25]

Please do the same experiment to see what promotes fleshy coral growth such as the heads on frogspawn/hammer/torch

[@alexanderlucas9059]

Should I be worried if my pH goes to 8.4 - 8.45?

[@BRStv]

I wouldn't worry about pH until it hits around 8.6. A pH of 8.4 is great :)

[@alexanderlucas9059]

@@BRStv awesome thank you very much for your reply, always appreciated!

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Do you really think pH in reef tank (it’s water) actually varies in a room because of ventilation?

[@gosflyer4075]

Definitely, after feeding my skimmer with outside air I raised ph by .2

[@grizfyrfyter]

Tracking ph on my apex, I can tell you what time our friends came over and left just by abnormalities in the pH graph.

[@BornHandy]

Any doubt can be removed just by looking at an Apex pH chart.

[@gregdaniels4440]

That seems like a lot of food for one medium sized dog

[@BornHandy]

haha! Might get an ammonia spike in the office!

[@longjohndingel]

I use co2 Adsorber for one year now. Don't see any effect on growing. Only what I can see.. Kh level will jump up and down when you replace the Granulat. Not good..

[@grizfyrfyter]

Is kh fluctuating due to higher calcification during higher ph periods?

[@longjohndingel]

@@grizfyrfyter if you would have a better growing? Sure. Like your Calcium level too. But I'm talking about Atemkalk, for using to get a higher pH. If you use atemkalk.. Another German word what you should learn... The kh level will also jump up and down.. Without better growing.

[@Slide-Loc]

Some may be lost in translation... in the US it's called soda lime. Same as some use in a rebreather for diving. If you're not seeing increased growth it could be from two likely scenarios... 1) It is but since you don't have a control group it's imperceptible. 2) Given the complexity of reefs there is likely another limiting factor such as a lower element and growth is stunted until the balance is restored. Ex: (for others) If it takes 1+1+1 ratio but a person only has an element ratio of 1+.5+1 then the reef adjusts to to the lowest common denominator.

[@longjohndingel]

@@Slide-Loc I don't use it anymore. Better way to set up pH is, a strong light. I have more than 700 Watt over a reefer 350. Nobody.. I guess World wide.. Have a stronger light over such a small tank. I recommend a refugium under the tank too. Both will save a natural high pH level very stable.

[@raisethereef]

Be super careful with pulling air from the skimmer. When your skimmer overflows, it will suck water into the CO2 scrubbing material and pull that into your tank. Bye bye tank when it happens

[@kiddt1999]

They should never overflow with a level sensor that comes with them. The mechanical sensors do stick sometimes so i would recommend and extra sensor like one that is connected to a Hydros controller to shut down the pump if the level gets too high.

[@jeffsreeftank3991]

Nice test guys 👍🏾👍🏾