Is my PH too high for my LPS tank?

[calanprc]

My Ph jumped from 8.3 to 8.5. I’ve been dosing BRS two part Alk only as my calc and mag were too high. I’m using the BRS calculator to manually dose.
Should I be dosing all and calcium equally ti avoid ph spikes ? Is a ph of 8.5 too high? Should I stop siding ti get the Ph down or do something else?

here are my current stats:
130.4 gallons
Salinity - 1.026
Temp - 77
alk- 12.1 dhk
Ca - 586 ppm
Mg - 1400 ppm
Ph - 8.5

 

[Tuffloud1]

My Ph jumped from 8.3 to 8.5. I’ve been dosing BRS two part Alk only as my calc and mag were too high. I’m using the BRS calculator to manually dose.
Should I be dosing all and calcium equally ti avoid ph spikes ? Is a ph of 8.5 too high? Should I stop siding ti get the Ph down or do something else?

here are my current stats:
130.4 gallons
Salinity - 1.026
Temp - 77
alk- 12.1 dhk
Ca - 586 ppm
Mg - 1400 ppm
Ph - 8.5

How are you measuring your ph? Why are you running alk at 12?

 

[calanprc]

How are you measuring your ph?

Hi,
I’m using the new Hanna master multi parameter photometer.

 

[Tuffloud1]

Hi,
I’m using the new Hanna master multi parameter photometer.

Your alk is super high. Any reason you are running it that high?

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Calcium and Alk seem high. 8.5 is probably fine if there is not a large daily swing. Watch the corals, they'll tell you

 

[vetteguy53081]

My Ph jumped from 8.3 to 8.5. I’ve been dosing BRS two part Alk only as my calc and mag were too high. I’m using the BRS calculator to manually dose.
Should I be dosing all and calcium equally ti avoid ph spikes ? Is a ph of 8.5 too high? Should I stop siding ti get the Ph down or do something else?

here are my current stats:
130.4 gallons
Salinity - 1.026
Temp - 77
alk- 12.1 dhk
Ca - 586 ppm
Mg - 1400 ppm
Ph - 8.5

Its high but may be in part to your Very High CA of 586 which should be 400-450
Alk also high. Should be 8-11
Mag 1300

 

[calanprc]

Your alk is super high. Any reason you are running it that high?

It was 11.2 the day before I did a water change. I’m using the tropical Marin pro salt. Can a 20% hangs cause the Alk to go up? Should I stop dosing until the Alk is back down to 8.0 ? are you supposed to dose the Alk and.calcium the same amount in the future? I was not doing that.

 

[Tuffloud1]

Have you measured your daily consumption by testing alk and calcium day to day without dosing to see the drop?

 

[calanprc]

Its high but may be in part to your Very High CA of 586 which should be 400-450
Alk also high. Should be 8-11
Mag 1300

In order to correct this, should I stop dosing until the Alk, ca and mg are at the lower ranges? When this is achieved to I need to dose all three in equal amounts on a daily basis?

 

[Tuffloud1]

In order to correct this, should I stop dosing until the Alk, ca and mg are at the lower ranges? When this is achieved to I need to dose all three in equal amounts on a daily basis?

You need to let it drop and test every 24 hours. This gives you your tanks daily consumption rate. So if it is 12 now and 11.5 in 24 hours, your daily consumption rate is .5. Let it fall to the level you want and then resume dosing but at the rate you measured that your tank consumes daily.

 

[calanprc]

Have you measured your daily consumption by testing alk and calcium day to day without dosing to see the drop?

the Alk was dropping about .4 ppm daily. But the ca remained high. I just kept dosing the Alk based on the BRS calculator. To bring it back up .4 ppm. I’m not sure how the Alk and ca for out of wack.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Ran my pH at that for months without any issues. Only reduced because my evap wasn't high enough headed into spring to keep up with kalk dosing.

 

[Spare time]

You can keep alk and calcium at those levels. You might get some extra precipitation, but I was my tank at 12KH for a while. High calcium isn't dangerous. Some salt mixes come at 12-13KH

 

[calanprc]

You need to let it drop and test every 24 hours. This gives you your tanks daily consumption rate. So if it is 12 now and 11.5 in 24 hours, your daily consumption rate is .5. Let it fall to the level you want and then resume dosing but at the rate you measured that your tank consumes daily.

Thank you. Will do.

 

[vetteguy53081]

In order to correct this, should I stop dosing until the Alk, ca and mg are at the lower ranges? When this is achieved to I need to dose all three in equal amounts on a daily basis?

Yes. To assure its working, test each 24 hrs the first 3 days. If indeed falling, check every other day until numbers achieved.
Do note that if you change water regularly, many salt mixes contain these eements and ma y elevate the readings slightly.

 

[calanprc]

Yes. To assure its working, test each 24 hrs the first 3 days. If indeed falling, check every other day until numbers achieved.
Do note that if you change water regularly, many salt mixes contain these eements and ma y elevate the readings slightly.

Thank you for your help!!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd personally stop dosing and let the alk and calcium decline a bit (to wherever you want them), then resume dosing at a lower rate.

 

[calanprc]

I'd personally stop dosing and let the alk and calcium decline a bit (to wherever you want them), then resume dosing at a lower rate.

Hi, Would you be able to tell me what target ranges to stay in for Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. I am focusing on an LPS reef tank. Thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi, Would you be able to tell me what target ranges to stay in for Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. I am focusing on an LPS reef tank. Thank you

7-11 dKH
380-550 ppm calcium
1250-1400 ppm magnesium.

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

[note: edited on 5/29/2022 to update the nitrate and phosphate sections with higher recommended levels.] One of the main roles of an aquarist with a coral reef aquarium is to ensure that the conditions are right for their tank inhabitants. There are many different attributes of the aquarium...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[calanprc]

7-11 dKH
380-550 ppm calcium
1250-1400 ppm magnesium.

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

[note: edited on 5/29/2022 to update the nitrate and phosphate sections with higher recommended levels.] One of the main roles of an aquarist with a coral reef aquarium is to ensure that the conditions are right for their tank inhabitants. There are many different attributes of the aquarium...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you!!!!!