apex Ph is it accurate?

[Zctai]

hi guys I have a question. How accurate is the apex lab grade ph . Cuz I know I have low ph due to the close environment. Which range from 7.9-8.1 , but somehow whenever I’m doing a water change . The ph ramp up to 8.3 within the sump wothout the circulations any ideas why ? Oh yea at the same time the skimmer is also off

 

[Crabs McJones]

hi guys I have a question. How accurate is the apex lab grade ph . Cuz I know I have low ph due to the close environment. Which range from 7.9-8.1 , but somehow whenever I’m doing a water change . The ph ramp up to 8.3 within the sump wothout the circulations any ideas why ? Oh yea at the same time the skimmer is also off

How often do you calibrate?

 

[Zctai]

How often do you calibrate?

Last time I calibrate is about 4 months ago . The problem is when I turn off the main pump . Without any circulation the PH will always show higher . Then when whole tank is circulating

 

[ZoWhat]

You calibrate it with 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0 solutions

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Scient...calib&sr=8-2-spons&ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa&psc=1#

 

[Crabs McJones]

Last time I calibrate is about 4 months ago . The problem is when I turn off the main pump . Without any circulation the PH will always show higher . Then when whole tank is circulating

Where is the ph probe located and is there any equipment near it such as a skimmer that continues to run? Or do you have a refigium? Also when you do your water change, do you add the new water to the sump or to the display?

 

[Zctai]

You calibrate it with 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0 solutions

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Scient...calib&sr=8-2-spons&ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa&psc=1#

I got the single package one from BRS it 7.0-10.0,

 

[ZoWhat]

Also, WCs add a new dose of sodium bicarbonate which will jump your pH temporarily as it absorbs into the water column.


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[Zctai]

Where is the ph probe located and is there any equipment near it such as a skimmer that continues to run? Or do you have a refigium?

The Ph is located in the same location as return pump . And at the time of high reading. I have turn everything of . The pump and the skimmer .

 

[Zctai]

Also, WCs add a new dose of sodium bicarbonate which will jump your pH temporarily as it absorbs into the water column.


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Humm but that’s the reading before I do the water change, which is the time when everything is turn off . No circulation whatsoever . And after the waterchange and turn on the pump the reading will drop down to normal range in my tank . Which u see in the chart

 

[Zctai]

So what I’m trying to say is that . Does PH reads different in non moving water ?

 

[Crabs McJones]

So what I’m trying to say is that . Does PH reads different in non moving water ?

Do you have a refugium or alot of algae in your sump?

 

[Zctai]

Also, WCs add a new dose of sodium bicarbonate which will jump your pH temporarily it absorbs into the water column.


.

yes I have a little reactor with chaets in it

 

[Crabs McJones]

yes I have a little reactor with chaets in it

If the chaeto reactor continues to run that might be the answer to your question.

 

[Zctai]

If the chaeto reactor continues to run that might be the answer to your question.

Ok thx so much for the help~

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Also, WCs add a new dose of sodium bicarbonate which will jump your pH temporarily as it absorbs into the water column.


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A water change may raise or lower pH, but strictly speaking, if you actually added sodium bicarbonate itself, it will lower pH.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So what I’m trying to say is that . Does PH reads different in non moving water ?

There apparently are sometimes some issues with controllers and how they report pH, perhaps due to many different factors such as temperature effects, interference, and more esoteric things like ground loops.

Generally, pH can be measured is hardly moving water, but it may take the probe longer to respond to pH changes.

 

[Zctai]

There apparently are sometimes some issues with controllers and how they report pH, perhaps due to many different factors such as temperature effects, interference, and more esoteric things like ground loops.

Generally, pH can be measured is hardly moving water, but it may take the probe longer to respond to pH changes.

thx so much for the info . And from the looks of the chart . The ph didn’t have this huge swing for the rest of the day . So won’t be a problem I guess

 

[Dr RBG]

One issue I find with the apex charts is that the axes are always set to make the chart look dramatic. I think the whole change is 0.25 ph points { I know my math is not taking into the amount the actual ph equation- Logs or something like that. Considering the probes have some measurement error. If the Y axis was in whole pH divisions it would look almost flat (like no change in pH) Maybe Randy can let us know the actual science on this and explain it better.

I Think!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Where is the ph probe located and is there any equipment near it such as a skimmer that continues to run? Or do you have a refigium? Also when you do your water change, do you add the new water to the sump or to the display?

I keep mine in the corner away from all components and right next to overflow. My Apex Ph probe has always been Off since buying it and calibrating three times with Apex own solution