Is My pH Getting Too High

[aarbutina]

A couple weeks ago I switched my air inlet from drawing outside air to drawing air through CO2 scrubbing media.

I was previously experiencing an average pH for around 8.2. After switching to the scrubber I am experience an average daily pH for about 8.4. My question is this, while on average my pH is 8.4 on a daily basis, the max pH gets up closer to 8.6, is this too high?
I will also not that I have not calibrated or confirmed my pH probe lately so there could be some error in my measurement, but that doesn’t change the question of whether an daily max of close to 8.6 would be and issue.

Thanks in advance

 

[lapin]

nope

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think it seems like an unnecessary use of scrubber media. I doubt there is a problem aside from possibly accelerated abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate, however.

 

[aarbutina]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Randy, while I agree the difference in pH between outside air and scrubber air is minimal and probably doesn’t justify the cost of the media, my concern was more about contaminates such as pesticides coming into the tank from outside. My air draw is in the side of the house which if very close to the neighbors so it is harder to control what could be sucked up. For instance they had their house power washed the other day, I like not needing to be concerned about what kind of aerosolized chemicals could have been pulled into my skimmer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Randy, while I agree the difference in pH between outside air and scrubber air is minimal and probably doesn’t justify the cost of the media, my concern was more about contaminates such as pesticides coming into the tank from outside. My air draw is in the side of the house which if very close to the neighbors so it is harder to control what could be sucked up. For instance they had their house power washed the other day, I like not needing to be concerned about what kind of aerosolized chemicals could have been pulled into my skimmer.

That makes sense. You could allow some of the indoor air to bypass the media.

 

[Andy Macro]

If you have a refugium with macros they tend to increase the pH in the day while they consume Carbonate, that could be causing the spikes

 

[Miller535]

I am skeptical that you are hitting some of those numbers like 8.6 with just a CO2 scrubber. Especially since you have not calibrated your ph probe latley

 

[Miller535]

That makes sense. You could allow some of the indoor air to bypass the media.

Brs does recommend doing this with a T and a valve. They have a video on it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you have a refugium with macros they tend to increase the pH in the day while they consume Carbonate, that could be causing the spikes

Photosynthesizing organisms consume CO2 to raise pH.

 

[aarbutina]

Brs does recommend doing this with a T and a valve. They have a video on it.

I have considered doing this. My only concern was if the amount of air draw changes due to a less restrictive flow path that varies slimmer performance could occur. In other words, let’s say the when the valve opens the slimmer can draw more air because the non scrubbed air is able to be pulled with less restriction the slimmer could slimmer wetter or dryer during that time. Maybe this wouldn’t happen to a significant level but that has been my concern.

 

[Miller535]

I have considered doing this. My only concern was if the amount of air draw changes due to a less restrictive flow path that varies slimmer performance could occur. In other words, let’s say the when the valve opens the slimmer can draw more air because the non scrubbed air is able to be pulled with less restriction the slimmer could slimmer wetter or dryer during that time. Maybe this wouldn’t happen to a significant level but that has been my concern.

The biggest problem with the valve IMO would be that because the CO2 in your house is fluctuating from seasons, amount of people, it basically requires constant tuning. But I think the skimmer should be getting the same amount of air either way, just diverted differently.

 

[aarbutina]

The biggest problem with the valve IMO would be that because the CO2 in your house is fluctuating from seasons, amount of people, it basically requires constant tuning. But I think the skimmer should be getting the same amount of air either way, just diverted differently.

That would be true if the path the air has to take the same is equal. This is an extreme example of what I am talking about but, lets say you were trying to pass air through a 1" piece of tube vs a 1/10" piece of tube. The skimmer wouldn't be able to draw nearly as much air though the 1/10" piece of tube as it would through the 1" and hence the air to water ratio would be different causing different skimmer performance. Again a very extreme example for illustration purposes only.

If i put this non scrubber air on a valve I would look to use one that could be automated through the apex to open and close only when the pH hit a certain point.

 

[Lizdoesreef]

Does that mean coral growth? I upgraded to led/t5s recently and noticed my pH is 8.2 early morning before lights and 8.4 during midday with the lights. I also noticed an Increase in alk consumption .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Does that mean coral growth? I upgraded to led/t5s recently and noticed my pH is 8.2 early morning before lights and 8.4 during midday with the lights. I also noticed an Increase in alk consumption .

High pH? Not necessarily. Higher pH from a lighting change means more photosynthesis. That might be from corals, or it might be from algae.