Raising PH Without Raising Alk

[Catastrofe]

How do I raise my PH without raising my Alk?

I'll be starting ZEO next week, and with my Alk at 8dKH, my PH is down around 8.0. I've discontinued my kalkwasser feed, so my only additives besides ZEO will be B-Ionic 2 part.

Thanks. . . .

[Diesel3443]

ny ph stays around 8.0 on zeo nothing everythings a ok in my tank

[Catastrofe]

Thanks, Diesel.

Anyone else?

[nyfireman3097]

the best way to do so is to have the skimmer airintake line fetching fresh air from outside i did so and my PH is at 8.4 all the time
Nick

[Catastrofe]

Thanks, Nick.

There's a window directly behind and above my tank (it's in the basement) that I keep open 1-2 inches so I don't think I have a CO2 issue. Just for grins, I ran a length of polyethylene tubing from the window into the air intake tube of my ER CS8-1. I'll see it if has an effect.

Still open for other suggestions. . .

[nyfireman3097]

LMK what happens worked g8 for me
Nick

[Diesel3443]

My Skimmer intake is outside too---

[Skipper]

Suggestion: in the South here, the city or county often sends a "mosquito truck" around that fogs the neighborhood with insecticide. If you are in area that's doing these sprays, it would be wise to use a carbon filter on the air intakes.

[Diesel3443]

Thanks Skipper, but I am one step ahead of you. That was the first thing that came to my mind. Mine is built out of one in pvc w/a bag of carbon in it.

[GTR]

From what I understand there is nothing you can add to the water that will raise the pH without taking the alk with it. Your limewater raised the pH but it was, as you know, raising the alk at the same time.
SteveU

[mikester]

Thanks, Nick.

There's a window directly behind and above my tank (it's in the basement) that I keep open 1-2 inches so I don't think I have a CO2 issue.

I wouldn't be so sure. It takes a lot more than that to vent CO2. I bet feeding your skimmer with outside air will make a difference. I didn't have a window nearby to do that for my tank. But as luck would have it (NOT!) we had to replace our air conditioner last summer ($11k - think of the tank I could have built with that ) and we had a fresh-air intake added to the new system.

[Diesel3443]

From what I understand there is nothing you can add to the water that will raise the pH without taking the alk with it. Your limewater raised the pH but it was, as you know, raising the alk at the same time.
SteveU

I agree, nothing can be added to increase w/o adj alk