Ph help

[docforestal]

Hi, as I am researching ph probes to monitor more frequent I decided to get a Hanna ph tester to double check my api
Using b ionic mix and I can’t find official specs for ph but others get ~8.2
The salinity 1.025, mg 1320, alk 9.1, ca 500 on mix is consistent the last 3 months using
Api has consistently run 8.2 ish (see pic to see if you agree). Always in mid morning check
Hanna showed 7.9 ,retest 8.0, I see it’s stand deviation of error is 0.5? (Yes followed the directions on Hanna, no fingerprints etc)
I am inclined to believe api as it goes along with other reports

do you agree?

my tank is fish only so far, using up 0.5 alk a week likely from coralline growth seen on rocks
No sump , minimum gracillia in hob filter growing for another tank, plans to add a chaeto reactor in future ( not pertinent but just fyi )

 

[glb]

The Hanna is much, much more accurate than the API. I’d trust it. Good luck!

 

[docforestal]

Ok ,thanks @glb , I did several tests with Hanna and average is like 7.98
Api has been same readings since the start, so tank is running consistent
I tested my mix and it is 8.2 on api and 8.0 on hanna
So mix and tank 8.0
When I start adding corals, looking mostly sps (pocillopora,stylopora,pavona,turbinaria) I would like closer to 8.3
Certainly raising my alk with kalk might help a smidgeon, but not the way to treat and my alk is ok, I am maintaining for 8.9-9.2 as goal long term

I have minimal photosynthesis , hair algae going away,yay

I have decent ( not great) surface agitation with wave makers and hob x 2 flow (skimmer and filter for particulates/gfo)

I am looking to change my salt to how marinemix also good reviews, one (mostly) just one box vs 2 bags and 2 bottles, not a lot of room, and two calcium runs high 500-520 from b ionic and is lower on marinemix
Maybe this will help , plan would be (55 gallon tank) 5 gallons 2x week water changes to ease to new salt
Remember no corals yet


any ideas or just keep where I am at for now and see when I add coral I have issues?

have good air flow in the house, as it wa4ms and I open the window would be interesting to see if ph goes up (maybe I will do that today windows open a few hours and retest) ,if I have high co2 in home

 

[melonheadorion]

if you have a skimmer, run the air intake to the outside. other than that, if your ph is low, its going to be restricted by the co2 in the house. the way to fix that is to introduce fresh oxygen from outside, and to do that, is by opening a window. the way around that, if you cant open a window because of temps, is to run the air intake through a small opening.

as mentioned, i would trust the hanna checker much more than the api. i would trust a hanna over any other tester out there to be quite honest.

 

[docforestal]

Thanks @melonheadorion
10 foot airline to outdoors for skimmer intake but a good idea
We’ll see how ph is later today with window open
Running chaeto reactor 24 hours will hopefully help lower co2 as well, long term goals

 

[melonheadorion]

Thanks @melonheadorion
10 foot airline to outdoors for skimmer intake but a good idea
We’ll see how ph is later today with window open
Running chaeto reactor 24 hours will hopefully help lower co2 as well, long term goals

10ft is fine. your alternative would be a co2 scrubber

 

[docforestal]

so 4 hours after window open (and nothing that is photosynthesizing in the light) ph 8.1 - i may try the line out the window - thanks @melonhea

 

[tbasinger]

My mix usually runs around 8.2 but as soon as I dose my seachem reef fusion it jumps to 8.4+ and stays there. No hard corals just softies that are doing well.

 

[docforestal]

@melonhead
trying your suggestion
pH 8.0, will test again in 4 hours, after line run out the window
my alk has been dropping faster as coralline takes off and started adding regular yesterday too, that may help ph a little,

 

[docforestal]

for what it's worth, i have done maybe 10 ph tests with the new hanna checker at different times of day (not night) and all 8.0 (one 7.9)
prior to reading response above i did dose ~7.5cc kalk to the tank as alk had dropped to 8.2 from 8.4 yesterday - odd for no coral but i have a few growing patches of coralline or at least macro algae
i have small amount of kalk in ATO but i increased it

after above idea , i have my air intake hose from outside, after 4 hours pH is 8.4 (from 8.0this am) and alk remains at 8.2
fish all look ok, as it seems a fast change and i would worry about shock
i also suspect i have up to 0.5 standard deviation with each test so may not be as big a swing
well insulated house and my wife and I will be venting some windows, but that is a simple/elegant solution but i will monitor this to make sure