High ph?

5280Reefer · Feb 8, 2020

So my ph floats around 8.5-8.7 daily and I have recalibrated about 3 times and also checked it with a ph pen. Is there an issue that the high ph can cause?

Quietman · Feb 8, 2020

Can I ask the alkalinity? What are you dosing? and are you using a CO2 scrubber?

Should add...additives of course is common cause (but think that should be periodic and not sustained) or perhaps low CO2 (but that can also be from type of alk control).

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 8, 2020

5280Reefer said:
So my ph floats around 8.5-8.7 daily and I have recalibrated about 3 times and also checked it with a ph pen. Is there an issue that the high ph can cause?

two point calibration? I’m very suspicious. High pH without dosing high pH additives or using artificial rock is as rare as hens teeth.

if alk is normal, more aeration always lowers it.

5280Reefer · Feb 8, 2020

Quietman said:
Can I ask the alkalinity? What are you dosing? and are you using a CO2 scrubber?

Should add...additives of course is common cause (but think that should be periodic and not sustained) or perhaps low CO2 (but that can also be from type of alk control).

I only dose 2 part that I get from a lfs and I think they get it from BRS it only 10$ a gallon so I don’t sweat making my own. I dose through a DOS and 45ml of each per day alk and cal. Alk 9.5 cal 450 mag 1400

5280Reefer · Feb 8, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
two point calibration? I’m very suspicious. High pH without dosing high pH additives or using artificial rock is as rare as hens teeth.

if alk is normal, more aeration always lowers it.

so I use the apex and the Neptune calibration fluids for one check and use a pinpoint ph controller and the pinpoint calibration fluids for it, the pinpoint is my backup ph monitor. Alk is at 9.5 cal at 450 mag 1400

heifinator · Feb 8, 2020

99/100 times pH this high isn't actually this high. Look at the test and maybe verify with a separate method?

If not, what other additives do you use?

5280Reefer · Feb 8, 2020

heifinator said:
99/100 times pH this high isn't actually this high. Look at the test and maybe verify with a separate method?

If not, what other additives do you use?

as stated I use two methods of testing apex and pinpoint which have both been recalibrated 3 times and both are .5 points of each other. I dose brightwell Replenish once a week, acro power once a week, iodine once a week, and two part daily. Nothing else

Mastiffsrule · Feb 8, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
rare as hens teeth

What??? ;Woot

;Happy

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 10, 2020

5280Reefer said:
as stated I use two methods of testing apex and pinpoint which have both been recalibrated 3 times and both are .5 points of each other. I dose brightwell Replenish once a week, acro power once a week, iodine once a week, and two part daily. Nothing else

0.5 or 0.05?

Do the devices read both pH calibration fluids correctly after calibration?

I’d look into getting new pH 7 and 10 fluids.

5280Reefer · Feb 10, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
0.5 or 0.05?

Do the devices read both pH calibration fluids correctly after calibration?

I’d look into getting new pH 7 and 10 fluids.

.05 sorry and i just got new 7 and 10 since i ran out of the last ones i had got both neptune 7 and 10 and pinpoint but I see it is very unlikely that ph can be that high but if it is is there any down sides to that?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 11, 2020

5280Reefer said:
.05 sorry and i just got new 7 and 10 since i ran out of the last ones i had got both neptune 7 and 10 and pinpoint but I see it is very unlikely that ph can be that high but if it is is there any down sides to that?

At pH 8.7 you can get a lot faster precipitation of calcium carbonate. It may also be high enough to begin to bother organisms, but there are not many studies that I’ve seen. pH 8.55 is about as high as I’d prefer to regularly see.

5280Reefer · Feb 11, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
At pH 8.7 you can get a lot faster precipitation of calcium carbonate. It may also be high enough to begin to bother organisms, but there are not many studies that I’ve seen. pH 8.55 is about as high as I’d prefer to regularly see.

Thank you