Can PH be too high?

[Treefer32]

My PH is continuously running high. I put my skimmer back on my tank due to high phosphates. I was running between 8.1 and 8.25 daily with my Algae turf scrubber and 2 gyres running at the surface of my display. I hooked my skimmer back up and now after a week of running the skimmer with everything else in place my low for my ph is 8.35 and my high is 8.49 daily now for about a week. Is there any concern to fish or corals running this high ph? I've got a large fish order coming Thursday, any considerations for acclimating new fish to a higher ph? I usually turn lights out for acclimating to the display. (They are pre-quarantined fish for 60 days in treatment at TSM Aquatics) They let me know once treatment is done they adjust to 35 ppt salinity for all fish they ship. Acclimation is for ph adjustment and chemistry going from their water to my water.

How do I go from low ph water to high ph water for new fish or corals?

 

[arking_mark]

How are you measuring pH?

Skimmers just increases aeration. Unless you are CO2 scrubbing your air, I would doubt anything above 8.3, as outside air which is lower in CO2, usually settles in that range.

My understanding is your pH isn't too high. I'm running my tank at around 8.35.

With regards to fish, adding high pH tank water to the fish travel water can quickly make ammonia in their travel water toxic. I would however follow the stores guidelines for acclimation.

My goto fish supplier usually recommends: float for 20-30min to temp adjust; if salinity is within .001 just add fish to tank; otherwise use 25% water changes every 10 minutes till salinity matches.

 

[Treefer32]

Thanks, sump and tank are in the furnace room. Next to the furnace. Which, really hasn't affected anything that I'm aware of. I'm not running a C02 scrubber. I have a air filter on the furnace that has carbon embedded in the filter. I don't think that would do anything but remove particles from the air...

So, in short, it sounds like the PH probe is just a false reading if it's above 8.4? It climbs to 8.53 when my doser adds in my baked baking soda (which is known for raising ph). The baked baking soda solution is dosed near the ph probe, it quickly dispers and falls from 8.53 to 8.35 within 3-4 minutes. So, I felt like the readings are responsive, if not accurate.

 

[arking_mark]

Thanks, sump and tank are in the furnace room. Next to the furnace. Which, really hasn't affected anything that I'm aware of. I'm not running a C02 scrubber. I have a air filter on the furnace that has carbon embedded in the filter. I don't think that would do anything but remove particles from the air...

So, in short, it sounds like the PH probe is just a false reading if it's above 8.4? It climbs to 8.53 when my doser adds in my baked baking soda (which is known for raising ph). The baked baking soda solution is dosed near the ph probe, it quickly dispers and falls from 8.53 to 8.35 within 3-4 minutes. So, I felt like the readings are responsive, if not accurate.

Sounds about right. I would recalibrate your pH probe and check measurements again. Certainly dosing soda ash can greatly raise your pH. If you are regularly dosing it, your pH can be maintained at a very high level.

I don't think your skimmer would contribute to raising your pH. In fact, I would bet that it would lower the pH in any tank with a pH above 8.3ish.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My PH is continuously running high. I put my skimmer back on my tank due to high phosphates. I was running between 8.1 and 8.25 daily with my Algae turf scrubber and 2 gyres running at the surface of my display. I hooked my skimmer back up and now after a week of running the skimmer with everything else in place my low for my ph is 8.35 and my high is 8.49 daily now for about a week. Is there any concern to fish or corals running this high ph? I've got a large fish order coming Thursday, any considerations for acclimating new fish to a higher ph? I usually turn lights out for acclimating to the display. (They are pre-quarantined fish for 60 days in treatment at TSM Aquatics) They let me know once treatment is done they adjust to 35 ppt salinity for all fish they ship. Acclimation is for ph adjustment and chemistry going from their water to my water.

How do I go from low ph water to high ph water for new fish or corals?

Those pH values are fine, assuming they are accurate.

The only issue is not dumping shipping water (low pH, possible total ammonia too high, but kept nontoxic by the low pH) into a high pH environment where the free ammonia might be an issue.

 

[Shadows Reef]

Those pH values are fine, assuming they are accurate.

The only issue is not dumping shipping water (low pH, possible total ammonia too high, but kept nontoxic by the low pH) into a high pH environment where the free ammonia might be an issue.

I dose Kalk and Co2 scrub may 30th was the change between my old media and new, I have a similar concern,
I’m not sure how high of PH is too high or if getting up to 8.6 and possibly 8.7 if the trend upwards continues will be safe?

I’m considering to not dose kalk in the day and replace with sodium bicarbonate in the day to flatten out that curve.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, pH 8.6 to 8.7 is excessively high.

I'd stop the scrubber, or use less media in it, or bypass it partly.

 

[Shadows Reef]

IMO, pH 8.6 to 8.7 is excessively high.

I'd stop the scrubber, or use less media in it, or bypass it partly.

usually it never gets any higher then 8.5 but I think it was the new media that drove it up.
Today is the end of the day and it’s settling out at 8.49