Ph probe help

[USMA36]

Can a ph probe crap the bed quickly? My apex is shown a ph of 7.5 and dropping. No changes to aquarium. It was 8.1 at 1pm. Then dropped like a rock out of nowhere. I don't have another way to calibrate or a second meter. What could cause a rapid drop like that. Tank seems fine.

 

[USMA36]

Now down to 7.3

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I would side on that it's reading properly and your 02 dropped for some reason. Did you dose bottled bacteria? Carbon source? Did you skimmer shut off? Do you have large company in the house?

All these can contribute to what you're experiencing

 

[USMA36]

I would side on that it's reading properly and your 02 dropped for some reason. Did you dose bottled bacteria? Carbon source? Did you skimmer shut off? Do you have large company in the house?

All these can contribute to what you're experiencing

No to all. 7.28. House is open. No chemicals outside or anything like that.

 

[USMA36]

Alk is stead at 8.4

 

[USMA36]

I did just notice my wife had a Yankee candle burning in the kitchen. About 20' from the tank I can't see that dropping ph that much when the house is open but who knows. She has been warned.

 

[USMA36]

Now at 7.20

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

My best guess would be that something biological changed in the tank. What exactly? I don't know. Do you have a refugium with macro algae that runs on reverse light schedule? Did the light burn out or not come on last night? All shots in the dark in Hope's ro trigger something for you.

 

[USMA36]

7.1 it has to be a bad probe. I hope. Fish are all doing fine.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I might recalibrate the probe to rule that put as well.

 

[USMA36]

I ordered a new probe and calibration solution. Won't be be here until Wednesday though.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Amazon?? I think amazon has pinpoint pH probes that will work just as good.

 

[USMA36]

7.01 I put the probe in a cup of fresh made salt water from the sealed storage tank in my basement. The probe didn't change at all. Still dropping.

 

[USMA36]

My best guess would be that something biological changed in the tank. What exactly? I don't know. Do you have a refugium with macro algae that runs on reverse light schedule? Did the light burn out or not come on last night? All shots in the dark in Hope's ro trigger something for you.

Refugium runs opposite main tank. Ph rose up to 8.1 today as it usually does. Around 1pm it nosedived and is still diving. I would think a ph of 7.0 would be damaging the fish or corals.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Quite possible... although I think it's too soon to physically see any dramatic changes to the tank inhabitants. Do you run an orp probe as well? If so has that dropped?

 

[USMA36]

No my orp probe went bad 6 months ago. I never replaced it. Right now ph is 6.8. That's fairly acidic. You don't think I would see a response from either the fish or corals?

 

[USMA36]

I also added the probe to a cup of fresh saltwater. No change in number whatsoever. Number is still dropping in the cup. I even tried a 10 second burst of alk into the cup of saltwater from my dosing pump to see if that would raise the ph. No effect. Here's my chart for the day.

 

[josephxsxn]

I would try putting the candle out or open a window for fresh air. I just recently ran my skimmer line outdoors to increase the PH of my tank. You would be surprised how much co2 is indoors. I have read of people using propane stove tops watching thier tank PH swing.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

The more you explain it the more I agree that the probe has crap the bed

 

[USMA36]

The more you explain it the more I agree that the probe has **** the bed

It has to be the probe. I have fans and windows open for hours. Candle was put out hours ago. I'm at 6.5 now. Thanks for trying to help figure it out.