High Alkalinity and ph

[bingus]

I’ve been trying to figure out why my ph and alkalinity were high for weeks and I was thinking and just realized that I have an air stone in my tank and thought maybe that could be keeping c02 from rising in my tank and keeping hydrogen out? What do you guys think? Any advice?

 

[arking_mark]

What do you consider high pH and Alk? Most people target higher pH and Alk to boost growth. I've been working hard to get my pH up... Kalk + Skimmer + CO2 Scrubber has taken me from 7.8ish pH to about 8.3ish ph.

 

[redfishbluefish]

What are you using to test pH and alkalinity? I can't see chemically how pH could be too high unless something (nasty) has been added to the tank. The natural buffering capacity will keep pH from going too high.

 

[bingus]

My ph measured over 8.6 (highest my Red Sea tester showed) and my alkalinity was 11.2 I haven’t added anything for it and my corals haven’t been growing (all softies and zoo types) do I need to dose amino acids or add something like reef chili?

 

[bingus]

What are you using to test pH and alkalinity? I can't see chemically how pH could be too high unless something (nasty) has been added to the tank. The natural buffering capacity will keep pH from going too high.

Red Sea marine test kit

 

[redfishbluefish]

What salt are you using and at what salinity? I'd bring a water sample to an LFS or another reefer and have them test your water. And just so you know, softies (including zoas) don't consume alkalinity. You might wish to consider switching to a salt with lower alk numbers.

 

[arking_mark]

My ph measured over 8.6 (highest my Red Sea tester showed) and my alkalinity was 11.2 I haven’t added anything for it and my corals haven’t been growing (all softies and zoo types) do I need to dose amino acids or add something like reef chili?

If you haven't added any additives or dosing to your tank, I would question the test kit for pH. If you are using a high-Alk salt, 11.2 is possible.

 

[bingus]

Wow I didn’t know that at all. I thought all corals consumed alkalinity to grow. I use instant ocean sea salt.

What salt are you using and at what salinity? I'd bring a water sample to an LFS or another reefer and have them test your water. And just so you know, softies (including zoas) don't consume alkalinity. You might wish to consider switching to a salt with lower alk numbers.

 

[bingus]

Wow I didn’t know that at all. I thought all corals consumed alkalinity to grow. I use instant ocean sea salt.

I keep my salinity at 35 ppm

 

[bingus]

If you haven't added any additives or dosing to your tank, I would question the test kit for pH. If you are using a high-Alk salt, 11.2 is possible.

I’m on vacation at the beach right now but I come home tomorrow and I will try to take a test sample of water to my lfs for a test thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve been trying to figure out why my ph and alkalinity were high for weeks and I was thinking and just realized that I have an air stone in my tank and thought maybe that could be keeping c02 from rising in my tank and keeping hydrogen out? What do you guys think? Any advice?

No, that is not an explanation for high pH (unless alkalinity is above 14 dKH) or anything to do with alkalinity values.

 

[bingus]

No, that is not an explanation for high pH (unless alkalinity is above 14 dKH) or anything to do with alkalinity values.

Is there any reason that it would be high?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there any reason that it would be high?

"It" means pH?

pH is only high if there is low CO2 in the aquarium, or high alkalinity.

In practice, reef tanks generally only have high pH when using high pH additives (they reduce CO2 in the water) or possibly if one is excessively using a CO2 scrubber on skimmer inlet air.