Low Ph - How concerned should I be?

[((FORDTECH))]

So I went to World Wide Corals and got a PH Test kit and it looks to be reading 8.0 - 8.15. What gives? Now I don't know what to trust. This Neptune thing costed $500+, should I trust the & $24 test kit?

Dude I’m telling you you’re not calibrating your probe properly

 

[((FORDTECH))]

After you’re done with the calibration the number is going to be different than what the number you started with there is no way that you’re going to calibrate your probe and it’s gonna be the exact same thing as before calibration

 

[KonradTO]

Does that make sense? What are the values for A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I?

I mean it's linked...

 

[R33fDaddy]

After you’re done with the calibration the number is going to be different than what the number you started with there is no way that you’re going to calibrate your probe and it’s gonna be the exact same thing as before calibration

Okay, I'm new to Apex so let me do it again. I did buy some more calibration fluid so I'll give that a go and report back.

So you trust that Salifert test?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Calibrate yes. Assuming your ph is at 7.7 as an example, It is more important that it is stable than low.
With a ph issue, look at alk which affects calcium and Ph

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I mean it's linked...

I didn't click the link...clicking now

 

[Miami Reef]

Do you want to know the mistake you are making?

You can buy the most expensive ph probe, but if the calibration fluid is not accurate the entire probe is junk.

Ph fluids are not stable when exposed to air, and there is an article that tested different brands and found 2 extremely inaccurate.

I personally highly recommend Milwaukee ph calibration fluids. They are very accurate.

You need to rinse the probe in RO/DI (shaking the probe after each freshwater rinse to get excess off) before dipping the probe in any of the solutions.

This is the key to accurate ph readings.

 

[R33fDaddy]

Do you want to know the mistake you are making?

You can buy the most expensive ph probe, but if the calibration fluid is not accurate the entire probe is junk.

Ph fluids are not stable when exposed to air, and there is an article that tested different brands and found 2 extremely inaccurate.

I personally highly recommend Milwaukee ph calibration fluids. They are very accurate.

You need to rinse the probe in RO/DI (shaking the probe after each freshwater rinse to get excess off) before dipping the probe in any of the solutions.

This is the key to accurate ph readings.

Thanks I'm going to rinse with RODI between each calibration. I'll be doing it in about 20 minutes.

 

[Miami Reef]

Thanks I'm going to rinse with RODI between each calibration. I'll be doing it in about 20 minutes.

What brand ph fluid are you using?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Thanks I'm going to rinse with RODI between each calibration. I'll be doing it in about 20 minutes.

Make sure its fully dry of r.o before going into calibration solution

 

[Miami Reef]

Rinse the pH electrode in pure fresh water before putting it into any calibration standard, and between each standard. Also, be careful to not transfer anything except a trace of purified water into the calibrations standards. Even tap water, when transferred into a calibration standard, can impact the pH.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/rhf/index.php#8

 

[damsels are not mean]

So I went to World Wide Corals and got a PH Test kit and it looks to be reading 8.0 - 8.15. What gives? Now I don't know what to trust. This Neptune thing costed $500+, should I trust the & $24 test kit?

You should trust whatever matches a lab grade standard

 

[Reef.]

I am almost certain it’s a probe issue…have you tried the jam jar test? Take a jar of tank water and test it, then go outside with it and aerate it for a good 30 mins, uncovered so the air can get to it, then test again, it should be in the low 8s, the outside and inside temps need to be within a couple of degrees for this to work.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am almost certain it’s a probe issue…have you tried the jam jar test? Take a jar of tank water and test it, then go outside with it and aerate it for a good 30 mins, uncovered so the air can get to it, then test again, it should be in the low 8s, the outside and inside temps needs to be within a couple of degrees for this to work.

My last two were probe issues

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/rhf/index.php#8

Thats a good one

 

[R33fDaddy]

Update:

I manually calibrated the Ph Probe in 7 and 10 solution. After Calibration I dipped the probe into 7 solution and it read 7 on the dot, same thing with the 10 solution. Put the probe back into my tank and it's now reading 7.71.

So now I just have to decide if I want to trust the Neptune Apex reading or the Salifert Test kit. What do you'll think?

 

[R33fDaddy]

What brand ph fluid are you using?

Neptune Brand.

 

[R33fDaddy]

I am almost certain it’s a probe issue…have you tried the jam jar test? Take a jar of tank water and test it, then go outside with it and aerate it for a good 30 mins, uncovered so the air can get to it, then test again, it should be in the low 8s, the outside and inside temps need to be within a couple of degrees for this to work.

It may be too hot outside to try this it was 100 degrees Today.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

It may be too hot outside to try this it was 100 degrees Today.

Are you clicking the save button in upper right corner after the calibration?

 

[R33fDaddy]

Guess I'm shopping for a CO2 Scrubber Today.