PH > 8.6, should I avoid it?

[meermann]

Hi guys.
I use CO2 scrubber, just connected to my skimmer's airline.
Previously max PH was nailed to 8.5, but then I switched to FM Balling Light instead of TM All For Reef and also added some Siporax. So last weeks it reaches 8.6 and more at the end of daylight. Yesterday it was even 8.67. At night it drops to 8.25-8.3. The probe was calibrated recently.
Today morning (around in 2-3hours after lights on) I decided to disconnect the scrubber. At the end of daylight my PH was 8.3, so I connected the scrubber back in order to avoid further night PH drop.

What do you think, is it safe to keep such PH levels? Or should I use 3 way solenoid valve and open/close scrubber line depend on actual PH level?

 

[14 foot reef]

I would add a solenoid to turn off Scrubber above 8.4, back open at 8.3 and see if you can get an avg 8.35 in a 24 hour period. In a 24 hour period my PH is low 8.24 high 8.28 Avg 8.26. The corals have really responded well to this
flat line PH in a 24 hour period.

 

[killer2001]

Hows the algae growth in your tank? I let algae overrun my tank for a week and I noticed about a 0.1 bump up in pH during the photo period.

 

[w8lifts]

Hows the algae growth in your tank? I let algae overrun my tank for a week and I noticed about a 0.1 bump up in pH during the photo period.

That’s a good point, when my ugly stage was in full bloom I would hit 8.5 PH, now that I have it under control 8-8.2. This is with a calcium reactor online and me pulling fresh air into protein skimmer. Algae can really bump your Ph up.

 

[Bleigh]

First, when is the last time you’ve calibrated the ph meter?

I would not go higher than 8.5. A higher ph can cause the chemical equation to move the opposite direction and negatively impact coral calcification.

 

[killer2001]

Yeah, I let the dinos take over and I saw a constant supply of little air bubbles floating in the water column to the surface lol. Now I'm slowly dwindling them down. and my pH has gone back down to normal range (for me).

 

[ReefHunter006]

I would add a solenoid to turn off Scrubber above 8.4, back open at 8.3 and see if you can get an avg 8.35 in a 24 hour period. In a 24 hour period my PH is low 8.24 high 8.28 Avg 8.26. The corals have really responded well to this
flat line PH in a 24 hour period.

Can you share what solenoid and how you set that up? I have tried using the apex solenoid and never managed to get it to work properly without causing the skimmer to overflow. The change in foam density from scrubbed air vs open air caused large fluctuations within the skimmer.

 

[ReefHunter006]

First, when is the last time you’ve calibrated the ph meter?

I would not go higher than 8.5. A higher ph can cause the chemical equation to move the opposite direction and negatively impact coral calcification.

This isn’t entirely supported. I run my tank sps frag tank 8.4-8.8.

The probe is calibrated quarterly. In general it is a good guideline to follow, but it doesn’t cause “the chemical equation to move the opposite direction”. This is corroborated with ICP which is run every two months.

Also based on my experience it has only yielded positive benefits for my sps.

I am not telling anyone to run there tank like this or elevate their PH. Just pointing out that 8.5 or 8.6 doesn’t just start the mass precipitation of alk or mag and cause a huge imbalance.

Support of those statements

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi guys.
I use CO2 scrubber, just connected to my skimmer's airline.
Previously max PH was nailed to 8.5, but then I switched to FM Balling Light instead of TM All For Reef and also added some Siporax. So last weeks it reaches 8.6 and more at the end of daylight. Yesterday it was even 8.67. At night it drops to 8.25-8.3. The probe was calibrated recently.
Today morning (around in 2-3hours after lights on) I decided to disconnect the scrubber. At the end of daylight my PH was 8.3, so I connected the scrubber back in order to avoid further night PH drop.

What do you think, is it safe to keep such PH levels? Or should I use 3 way solenoid valve and open/close scrubber line depend on actual PH level?

Needs to come down a little. What is your current alk reading ?

 

[meermann]

Hows the algae growth in your tank? I let algae overrun my tank for a week and I noticed about a 0.1 bump up in pH during the photo period.

Good catch, today I removed a lot of Caulerpa prolifera from the tank. I cleaned that LR last time maybe 3 weeks ago. But AFAIK the CO2 scrubber is expected to reduce algae growth as side effect, right?

Can you share what solenoid and how you set that up? I have tried using the apex solenoid and never managed to get it to work properly without causing the skimmer to overflow. The change in foam density from scrubbed air vs open air caused large fluctuations within the skimmer.

From my side I plan to use this with 6mm hose connector or this with 1/2. The first looks more suitable, not too heavy. I have Profilux and quick checking hasn't shown any 3 way solenoids by GHL unlike Apex has. So probably I'll use third-party vendor solenoid, power adapter and Profilux socket to turn it on and off
Regarding airline performance - I have airflow meter (just simple analogue meter with a ball inside), so I could add an additional valve on the open end of solenoid and adjust the flow precisely. It's not expected to be an issue.

First, when is the last time you’ve calibrated the ph meter?

I would not go higher than 8.5. A higher ph can cause the chemical equation to move the opposite direction and negatively impact coral calcification.

Around a month ago. And the probe was bought in June, so it's relatively new (and it's not a cheap noname probe)

This isn’t entirely supported. I run my tank sps frag tank 8.4-8.8.

The probe is calibrated quarterly. In general it is a good guideline to follow, but it doesn’t cause “the chemical equation to move the opposite direction”. This is corroborated with ICP which is run every two months.

Also based on my experience it has only yielded positive benefits for my sps.

I am not telling anyone to run there tank like this or elevate their PH. Just pointing out that 8.5 or 8.6 doesn’t just start the mass precipitation of alk or mag and cause a huge imbalance.

Support of those statements

I also keep KH between 7.5-7.7 using GHL KHD, but having PH that high especially with not so much elevated KH levels not so convenient IMO. What will happen if I rise KH up to 8.5-9?

 

[meermann]

Needs to come down a little. What is your current alk reading ?

7.7

 

[ReefHunter006]

I also keep KH between 7.5-7.7 using GHL KHD, but having PH that high especially with not so much elevated KH levels not so convenient IMO. What will happen if I rise KH up to 8.5-9?

I want to say again, I’m not advising anyone raise their PH to remsemble mine without educating themselves.

I just provided an example that 8.5 and 8.6 are not an ironclad number that results in an imbalance. My tank has reach 8.9 before, and I took measures to lower that in a controlled manner. I’ve also run the tank at 8.5dkh last year.

They are good guidelines, but I could see more damage being done by someone seeing their ph at 8.6 and rushing to bring it down causing more harm to their coral than just letting it be where it settled that day.

Slow adjustments if you want it lower. Instead of someone potentially dosing too much vinegar to lower it then causing a bacterial bloom killing your pets.

 

[vetteguy53081]

7.7

Yeah, Raise alk to between 8 and 9. While you can run lower alk, it has impact on calcium and ph buffering. Proper alkalinity levels also have a buffering capacity to help prevent pH swings in reef aquariums however high alkalinity can act as a stimulant and increase pH in the tank so be careful if raising, it is done slightly

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not go higher than 8.5. A higher ph can cause the chemical equation to move the opposite direction and negatively impact coral calcification.

Can you clarify what you mean by that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As a general comment, pH above 8.5 is most likely a test error in tanks not taking aggressive action to raise pH, and can only come about in tanks with inadequate aeration (when not aggressively trying to raise pH).

 

[doubleshot00]

Op i to just got a scrubber and its working to good. Hit a high of 8.44 (and my Apex had some alarm on it for the PH to. Sitting in a treestand trying to figure out whats going on )

Before my PH was always 7.8-8.1(during the day with windows open). If everything is closed up i was at 7.6-7.9. I'm gonna test today with everything shut up and only 2 small dogs where it will be before i get home.

But will say this scrubber works amazing and these corals BETTER GROW FASTER!