With no skimmer those are some nice numbers. A skimmer should drive off the excess CO2 you have and bring you within normal NSW pH. There is no need to target it to 8.2. A night of 8.0 and a day from 8.1-8.3 is fine. When some ones system is working well, within accepted range and they try too play with parmeter that is within range, they usaually make a mess of things.
Do you have a sump ? If so, suspend a box upside down in the sump, 3/4 submerged in water. Drill a hole in the top of box and attach a rigid airiline tube a few inches long. Then stick an airtsone under the box and "boil" that water. The air and CO2 will vent out the rigid tube and no/little salt creep.
Your tank is fine you just need a skimmer
Wood and Na gave you great advice
