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Hi all,
I noted last week that my open brain was not all well, and did tests, and found my ph at 7.7. I bought 2 types of ph increaser and kh buffer to fix this. During the day I get the ph to 8.1 and over night it will drop to 7.9 again. My kh is now quite high as I have added quite a bit to push it up, but the ph keeps dropping. So I decided to do a water change, the tank is 140l, and I did a 25l water change, adding some ph increaser to the new water pushing it to 8.4. After adding the new water the ph was 8.1. The next morning the ph was 7.9 again. So I did another water change, with the same effect. I then decided to do vacuum the gravel, as I was worried about that being the problem, and this morning it is back at 7.9. I have almost used up two bottles of ph increaser, and every time the ph gets to 8.1 the open brain and mushroom starts opening up, and when it gets to 7.9, they shrink into little balls, I have run out of ideas, can anybody help?
I have a web site of my setup, which is still under construction : www.jano.co.za/bubble

Sounds like a normal PH swing from night to day if you ask me.....I responded to your other thread explaining the process.

What is your magnesium testing at?

Also, with your calcium at 520 like you stated in the other thread, that could be driving your alkalinity down, which in turn would lower your ph, and make it so it isnt as stable.

Firstly tanks for the help.
I have done a test last night before the lights switch off and it was 8.2, and this morning 2 hours before the light switch on again, and it was 7.9.
I do not know how to lower the calcium, any ideas? It has been like this for the last month and I have not added any calcium.
I am using Kent ph plus and hagen ph increaser, and kent kh buffer. I was hoping that one of them would help.
I am busy setting up sump tanks for my other tanks, but this tank design does not allow for it, I will add a canister filer to it once the other tank is done. I am thinking of adding just live rock in the canister, would that help with the ph?

My current has dropped a bit, I have read the artical you wrote on sun polyps and put myne in the middle of the current which goes in the front of my tank. This have resulted that the current at the front of the tank has dropped. Can this also be effecting the ph?

Have you thought about adding a refugium? I've heard that having a refugium (with lots of macro algea) on a reverse light cycle will stop the pH swings.
Just an idea...

I am busy doing it with all my other tanks, but this tank does not allow for it. The tank is truely a show tank, and everything on, and in it, fits tight and perfect, so by drilling it will kind of beating the purpuse of it.
I have taken a reading last night again and it was 8.1, this morning was 7.9 again. I am hoping that it will go back to 8.1 toninght. I did not add any ph plus this morning.
What I do not under stand is that this ph plus or increaser only last for 12 hours. Is this due to the LR or filtering/scimmimg? Because if I use it in my FW tank it last for days.

Just another question, sorry...
I have changed my globe from a Phillips to "OCEAN SUN" which is sepose to be much stronger (11000K), but the spectrum is a bit less. I did this due to algue over grow, and the lfs said this should slow it down. Now DRO mentioned that the corals give drifferent chems. of when the light is on and off. Can this light not be part of the problem, should I add maybe another light with a fuller spectrum to increase the chems given off when the light is on?
And does anybody know how to drop calcium?

Its just oxygen and carbon dioxide that they are releasing......the light is fine.

To lower calcium, you will either need to do water changes, or just wait it out.

Thanks, sorry was never good at chemistry at school. I am planning to do water changes every week for the next month. Luckly I get NSW which seems to be good. Thanks alot for the help.