my ph is 7.4

[tonybwill]

Will soda ash help?

 

[CastAway]

[redacted]

Is this the norm, a low pH?

 

[tonybwill]

Could you tell me how to dose? Tank 45g with eshopps sump.

 

[CastAway]

NO NO!

My bad, I use baking soda to adjust my alk, not pH!

So sorry. Using baking soda will LOWER your pH even further.

Again, sorry.

[I open my windows to raise pH]

 

[tonybwill]

Soda ash is what i am asking about....

 

[redfishbluefish]

Unless you have a bad....very, very, very bad case of carbon dioxide build up in your house, your pH is not 7.4. How are you measuring pH?

I've got to believe your looking at testing error.


One point I forgot to add.....assuming you are maintaining proper alk and calc numbers.

 

[tonybwill]

I'm using a ph meter

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm using a ph meter

How old is the probe? Do you calibrate with pH 7 and pH 10 standards?

 

[tonybwill]

I had probe for 2 years. I never calibrated. I was told (supposedly) calibrated from the manufacturer.

 

[tonybwill]

alk 8
phos .25
ph 7.4
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Alk is related to pH, and while 8 is on the lower end of the spectrum, I don't know that it would be that high with a pH of 7.4. Two years is far too long to go without calibrating. I think most manufacturers recommend calibration every six months... if try calibration and testing again before you start changing/dosing things.

 

[CastAway]

pH probes are notorious for drying out, which ruins them.

 

[tonybwill]

Ok. I just tested calcium 200 ppm. Oh no!

 

[Andrewalex11]

If your pH is at 7.4 and calcium is at 200ppm its kind of odd that your Alkalinity is at 8.0

Anyway, if your parameters are really all out of whack and you cant figure out why, where, when, or how; you should seriously consider some frequent slightly larger than usual water changes with nice fresh new mixed saltwater using high quality reef salts.

 

[tonybwill]

Thanks for your service. I think I may also need some better test equiptment! I'm using API kit, I was told that it is the most inaccurate kit on the market!

 

[redfishbluefish]

I would not add anything until you had your water tested by someone else....maybe an LFS. Numbers just seem funny.

 

[tonybwill]

Thank you. I will do that tommorow.