Lowering PH?

NanaReefer · Feb 20, 2015

Hello Randy~

Via my new Seneye Reef Monitor, I'm getting a PH reading of 8.6 High I know. Please tell me the safest way to lower it. Coral and fish all doing well.
ALK = 9.1
Ca = 442
Mag = 1360
PH = 8.6
Temp = 78

Oh and not sure what this means but the Seneye also says my ammonia is 0.001 Where could this be coming from as I've only 3 lil fish in 47 gallons of water. 5g bi-weekly water changes, fuge, skimmer and change my sock every- 4-5 days.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 20, 2015

Are you using any high pH additives?

NanaReefer · Feb 20, 2015

Only additives are BRS 2part. 10ml 2x daily. Nothing else.

redfishbluefish · Feb 20, 2015

I'd have the pH verified by another source....LFS or fellow reefer. Isn't Seneye know for funky numbers?

NanaReefer · Feb 20, 2015

I don't know if Seneye is known for funky numbers. Can't find anyone else who's using one and today is my first reading buy the unit.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 20, 2015

I agree that a pH of 8.6 is unlikely unless you are using limewater.

This has more:

High pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

redfishbluefish · Feb 20, 2015

Might also wish to try this: Seneye Strange pH Reading

NanaReefer · Feb 20, 2015

Am I understanding it right that a possible cause for the elevated PH could be carbon dioxide? Having ruled out other possible causes, this one seems most likely.

eww · Feb 20, 2015

NanaReefer said:
Am I understanding it right that a possible cause for the elevated PH could be carbon dioxide? Having ruled out other possible causes, this one seems most likely.

Actually CO2 will lower Ph.

cope413 · Feb 20, 2015

I have a seneye and have had it running for the past 6-7 months. I literally just got my Apex installed (mostly) yesterday and the pH probe was .01 different from the Seneye reading. Temp was .8 degrees higher on the Seneye, but the Seneye is only .1 degree different than the reading from a little PID unit I have with a high quality j thermocouple - which I trust more than the Apex for the time being.

I did notice that with new pH slides on the Seneye, if you don't soak them for 24-48 hours before using them, it takes a day or two to give you a good reading.

Also, if you don't have good flow on your Seneye, that can definitely affect your readings.

cope413 · Feb 20, 2015

Oh and as for the ammonia - and Randy, please chime in if this is incorrect - but the Seneye reports free ammonia and total ammonia. Since these are always in equilibrium, my guess is that they are getting a reading from the slide for either total or free ammonia, and then using temperature and pH to extrapolate the other value.

.001 free ammonia (the dangerous kind of ammonia as far as our tanks are concerned) is normal. I think this means that most/all of the free ammonia is being consumed/converted almost instantly. If that number starts to rise, then you likely have cause for concern.

I saw my free ammonia rise to .008 once after an accidental over feeding, but it dropped back down to .001 after about 10 hours.

Total ammonia, OTOH, ranged from 13-19 - with an average around 14.5, and I never spent enough time trying to account for that fluctuation.

redfishbluefish · Feb 20, 2015

Seneye measures ammonia (NH3) and calculates ammonium (NH4). To me it's hooey......it's ammonia that kills....that's the only important one. And in a well established tank, if you have ammonia at high levels, it's a mystery.

cope413 · Feb 20, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
Seneye measures ammonia (NH3) and calculates ammonium (NH4). To me it's hooey......it's ammonia that kills....that's the only important one. And in a well established tank, if you have ammonia at high levels, it's a mystery.

Right. Her "free ammonia" level from seneye (and mine as well) was .001ppm. I dug a little and found that they call NH4 "Total Ammonia" - so that makes sense

NanaReefer · Feb 20, 2015

I did soak the slide for 48hrs. As for placement, how's right next to my mp10? So the Ammonia reading is nothing to worry about?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 20, 2015

0.001 ppm ammonia is no concern.

I doubt the pH is that high, but even if it is, the primary concern is just increased precipitation of calcium carbonate on pumps and such

NanaReefer · Feb 20, 2015

I've no precipitation at all. Return pump, heater and DT power heads are all clean.
Thanks all for the help. I'll keep an eye on this Seneye-lol.

cope413 · Feb 21, 2015

Yeah, could just be a bad slide. Shoot them an email - they'll probably replace it.

NanaReefer · Feb 21, 2015

Ok this thing is whack! Now I'm getting alerts telling me my temp is dangerously high and rising, yet it's only 79F 25.75C and still getting alerts of PH 8.5 being high and dangerous and alerts that my Ammonia 0.001 is high and rising and I should act quickly.
As for the Light Meter, I got frustrated trying to get any accurate readings. On the SB center I'm getting a Par of 256. My whites are only 10%max intensity, blues 55% max. But move the meter 10" in any direction I get about 89-90 par.
I'm done with it, not worth the headache.

cope413 · Feb 21, 2015

I found with the meter that you must keep it parallel to your lights in order to get consistent readings. No idea what's going on with the other stuff.

256 on the sb doesn't sound too far off. I know you have reef radiance. I have the dm155, and at 20%/50% in my 40 I'm between 200-230 on the bed.