Help me make sense of this PH drop

[ChrisQ0904]

I woke up thins morning and did my usual quick check of my tank and noticed really low ph and has me worried. Seems like the drop started around 11pm last night and I have never had my tank drop this low... even after the increased staying home after covid. I have an ATS running reverse lighting and a small reactor with a ball of chaeto running reverse lighting. I have plenty of surface agitation and my hose is older so not what I would consider 100% sealed or probably any close to that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are these two different graphs of pH?

 

[ChrisQ0904]

What are these two different graphs of pH?

PH = CaRx
Ph2 = tank

The co2 for the tank has been off and I was checking if it was possibly leaking co2 into the reactor and I do not believe that it is. CaRx has been up for about a month and have the ph limit as 6.95 on and 6.90 off.

 

[Joedubyk]

I see you're from Flo-Rida, I'm assuming your AC has been on and windows shut for some time now??

 

[ChrisQ0904]

I see you're from Flo-Rida, I'm assuming your AC has been on and windows shut for some time now??

Yes, but I'm not one to normally keep windows open anyway. I just find it weird that last night it dropped so low out of nowhere.


Ph probes are both brand new (2 weeks) and were calibrated when installed. CaRx probe was calibrated with 4 and 7 and tank probe with 7 and 10.

 

[TheDuude]

How is water clarity? Any sign of bacterial bloom?

Any missing livestock?

 

[ChrisQ0904]

How is water clarity? Any sign of bacterial bloom?

Any missing livestock?

Water is clear, no missing livestock.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

CO2 must be getting in since the reactor pH is so low, right?

I don't know the time frame of the graphs, but it might be a daily drop, but I'd recalibrate both pH meters as the tank pH, if real, is way at the low end of what reefers see at night.

 

[ChrisQ0904]

CO2 must be getting in since the reactor pH is so low, right?

I don't know the time frame of the graphs, but it might be a daily drop, but I'd recalibrate both pH meters as the tank pH, if real, is way at the low end of what reefers see at night.

I assumed I sprung a leak as well, but don't see any bubbles in the bubble counter at all. I just calibrated the probes when I installed them about 2 weeks ago, but I'll pick up some solution today and give it a shot. Ph drops are normal for my tank but never had anything like that.

 

[litenyaup]

Ph seems low in general, are you sure they have been calibrated correctly?

 

[ChrisQ0904]

Ph in general seems low in general, are you sure they have been calibrated correctly?

Yes I'm sure they were done correctly. My tanks also rarely go above 7.6 on a regular basis, even with the old probes, hence why I bought new ones thinking it was the probes.

 

[Joedubyk]

IME, with the summer weather and tightly sealed houses with AC constantly on, it's a co2 problem.

 

[litenyaup]

Yes I'm sure they were done correctly. My tanks also rarely go above 7.6 on a regular basis, even with the old probes, hence why I bought new ones thinking it was the probes.

have you ever thought about drawing air from the outside to use for your skimmer? That would make a huge difference. Also if that is not an option, a co scrubber May be your best bet.

 

[ChrisQ0904]

have you ever thought about drawing air from the outside to use for your skimmer? That would make a huge difference. Also if that is not an option, a co scrubber May be your best bet.

I have and just haven't been able to get over drilling a hole. I have tried a c02 scrubber before but the media would get depleted really fast so took it offline a few years ago.

 

[Joedubyk]

I have and just haven't been able to get over drilling a hole. I have tried a c02 scrubber before but the media would get depleted really fast so took it offline a few years ago.

co co2 is definitely your issue if your media gets used up that fast. outside air is definitely your best bet

 

[ChrisQ0904]

I am brainstorming ideas on getting outside air to my skimmer. I am assuming the bigger the tubing the better, but will someting as small as ro tubing suffice or is that too small?

 

[litenyaup]

Too small. U still need enough air for your skimmer to operate properly

 

[ChrisQ0904]

I have lifereef and was thinking of making a tee in the hose from the collection cup to the venturi

 

[litenyaup]

I have lifereef and was thinking of making a tee in the hose from the collection cup to the venturi

I would go directly from an exterior line to the pump velute air intake. Bypass any other interior air line all together. U need a line that is pulling 100% air from exterior.

 

[ChrisQ0904]

I setup a different PH alert for the time being and in the middle of the night I found the problem. Seems like I have a bad solenoid since it seems to work for a while then leaks as suspected. I woke up in the middle of the night last night from a low ph alarm, looked at the CaRx and saw that it was still putting in c02. Will try to take it apart today to clean or will have to order a new one. Kinda upset since I bought Burkert Solenoid in August 2019 and its leaking already. May have to go looking for another one or even a different brand for my DIY regulator.