Ammonia Spike raises pH?

[lakai]

I have QT tank that averages 7.7-7.8 pH only going up to 8 pH after a water change. The other day there was a ammonia spike that went up to NH3 4ppm and also brought the pH up to 8.4 pH from 7.9 pH in one hour. I quickly neutralized the spike with some amquel which immediately brought the pH back down to 7.6-7.7pH. I never read anywhere that ammonium spikes raising the pH. Just thought it was interesting. Luckily no fish were lost.

 

[DLHDesign]

Ammonia (NH3) has a pH of around 11.5. So as the ammonia concentration goes up, so too will the overall pH reading of the tank.

Glad you didn't loose any fish! I love having my Seneye in my QT for this exact reason.

 

[lakai]

I love having my Seneye in my QT for this exact reason.

Yeah, I agree its nice to not have to test for NH3 and being able to monitor it continually with a seneye even with the negatives of a seneye.