High PH 8.5 advice needed.

Tdoan · Feb 14, 2022

My PH is running 8.3 to 8.5, it is a new setup for frags it has been running around 2 months. I am not running a skimmer at this point. It has around 20 frags and some are small colonies.
I am doing weekly water changes around 15%, this has kept my DKH around 9.6. I am not currently dosing anything at this point. But I will before long because my DKh is dropping from 9.6 to 8.2 in a weeks time. I am planning to use kalkwasser. I know this will elevate my ph, what should I do to lower and keep my ph at a safe level.

Pistondog · Feb 14, 2022

Make sure it's calibrated before being concerned.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 14, 2022

I suspect the pH is not that high. High pH is very unlikely without high pH additives.

But if it is really hitting 8.5 already, I would not use kalkwasser. I'd use baking soda for alk.

Also, more aeration will reduce the pH.

HudsonReefer2.0 · Feb 14, 2022

I wish I could get my ph up 8.3-8.5. Time for the recirc CO2 scrubber. Nxt project.

Tdoan · Feb 14, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I suspect the pH is not that high. High pH is very unlikely without high pH additives.

But if it is really hitting 8.5 already, I would not use kalkwasser. I'd use baking soda for alk.

Also, more aeration will reduce the pH.

I have added a air stone to the sump. I think I have some packages to re calibrate the probe.

Tdoan · Feb 14, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I suspect the pH is not that high. High pH is very unlikely without high pH additives.

But if it is really hitting 8.5 already, I would not use kalkwasser. I'd use baking soda for alk.

Also, more aeration will reduce the pH.

When you say baking soda, is this the same as what is bought at the store. If so how would I dose it.
thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 14, 2022

Tdoan said:
When you say baking soda, is this the same as what is bought at the store. If so how would I dose it.
thanks

Yes, normal Arm & Hammer baking soda from a grocery store.

Long term, you'll want a balanced alk and calcium dosing method of some sort, but for immediate use, use the calculator below to determine the amount of baking soda needed, dissolve it in Ro/DI, and add to a high flow area away from organisms.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

If you make this recipe, you can use the calculator above for dosing:

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

Recipe #2, Part 2: The Alkalinity Part

Dissolve 297 grams of baking soda (about 1 1/8 cups) in enough water to make 1 gallon total. This dissolution may require a fair amount of mixing. Warming it speeds dissolution. This solution will contain about 950 meq/L of alkalinity (2660 dKH). As mentioned earlier, Arm & Hammer is a fine brand of baking soda to use in these recipes. Be sure to NOT use baking powder. Baking powder is a different material that often has phosphate as a main ingredient.

Tdoan · Feb 14, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes, normal Arm & Hammer baking soda from a grocery store.

Long term, you'll want a balanced alk and calcium dosing method of some sort, but for immediate use, use the calculator below to determine the amount of baking soda needed, dissolve it in Ro/DI, and add to a high flow area away from organisms.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

If you make this recipe, you can use the calculator a for dosing:

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

Recipe #2, Part 2: The Alkalinity Part

Dissolve 297 grams of baking soda (about 1 1/8 cups) in enough water to make 1 gallon total. This dissolution may require a fair amount of mixing. Warming it speeds dissolution. This solution will contain about 950 meq/L of alkalinity (2660 dKH). As mentioned earlier, Arm & Hammer is a fine brand of baking soda to use in these recipes. Be sure to NOT use baking powder. Baking powder is a different material that often has phosphate as a main ingredient.

Thanks for the explanation, I plan on recalibrating the probe and hope that solves the issue.