Help raising pH

[Plandauesq]

How are you measuring PH? If an apex probe or a probe in general is it calibrated? I believe this might be a testing error.

With Apex Probe that was recently calibrated.

 

[Redfoxtang]

With Apex Probe that was recently calibrated.

Any other way to test? Like a Hanna or a test kit just to be sure the probe isn’t off. Mine was like this right after I calibrated and it was driving me crazy. Bought the Hanna and it read 8.1 while my apex was reading 7.6. I also live in central Florida and opening up windows isn’t a thing down here.

 

[Plandauesq]

Any other way to test? Like a Hanna or a test kit just to be sure the probe isn’t off. Mine was like this right after I calibrated and it was driving me crazy. Bought the Hanna and it read 8.1 while my apex was reading 7.6. I also live in central Florida and opening up windows isn’t a thing down here.

So I just tried checking with my Hanna pH checker, said 8.1, but I am not entirely sure how calibrated it is, as it was dry when I took off the cap.

 

[arking_mark]

Just a little background on pH...

Aquarium pH Distilled

I just wanted to share my understanding of reef pH which is mostly based on: Low pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com Many would agree that reef tanks can be successful with pH between 7.8 – 8.5 NBS and daily swings as great as 0.5 NBS. Natural pH levels in our ocean...

www.reef2reef.com

...and a couple of thoughts:

• pH measurements from hobby grade testers are often innaccurate. So take your readings with a grain of salt.
• Your pH most likely is tied to your effective C02
• Your effective CO2 is your combined sources and sinks in your tank
• With a 300 gal tank and good water movement, your skimmer's gas exchange with CO2 scrubbed air may be much smaller than your tank's gas exchange with the highor CO2 house air. Thus, you may not see much of a benefit from the CO2 scrubber.
• Kalkwasser should give you a decent (can be estimated) bump
• Macroalgae and other photosynthetic organisms can give you bumps during the light cycle
• Running a refugium on reverse light cycle can help at night

I hope this gives you some ideas...

 

[Gedxin]

Also surface agitation. How well is your water movement at the surface?

Your 8.1 hanna checker is promising too!

 

[LuisPerez711]

What is Randy's two part?

Here is the original 2 part article/thread:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Here is the 2/3 part (dose Mg separate):

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

I was at my evap capacity with kalk so I switched to the 2/3 part formula. Works great but because it's so concentrated, I dose very little and I dont see the full benefit of the higher PH.