Ph problem

christopher.lauwers · Dec 10, 2018

Hi everyone.

A few weeks ago I started to dose Kalk slowly adjusting my amount based on testing. Well I’m hovering around 9.3 ph today should be worried?

Corals and fish seem to be fine. Even got some new ones yesterday and they seems to be fine as well.

I’ll update my post after I get my kids to bed with tonight’s testing parameters.

dwest · Dec 10, 2018

christopher.lauwers said:
Hi everyone.

A few weeks ago I started to dose Kalk slowly adjusting my amount based on testing. Well I’m hovering around 9.3 ph today should be worried?

Corals and fish seem to be fine. Even got some new ones yesterday and they seems to be fine as well.

I’ll update my post after I get my kids to bed with tonight’s testing parameters.

If it’s really 9.3 yes. How are you testing pH? I would test alkalinity. If it’s in the normal 7-10 range, i’m guessing your pH is not really that high.

christopher.lauwers · Dec 10, 2018

So have a Hanna checker And also a test tube version.
Hanna checker reads 9.3
Test tube was 9 also.

dwest · Dec 10, 2018

christopher.lauwers said:
So have a Hanna checker And also a test tube version.
Hanna checker reads 9.3
Test tube was 9 also.

Alkalinity or pH?

christopher.lauwers · Dec 10, 2018

Ph sorry

Getting kids to bed then I can check alk

dwest · Dec 10, 2018

christopher.lauwers said:
So have a Hanna checker And also a test tube version.
Hanna checker reads 9.3
Test tube was 9 also.

I think you are saying your alkalinity is 9.3. Right? If so, perfect.

dwest · Dec 10, 2018

christopher.lauwers said:
Ph sorry

Getting kids to bed then I can check alk

Hmmm?

christopher.lauwers · Dec 10, 2018

Alk is at 9.0
Ph at 9.2

dwest · Dec 11, 2018

christopher.lauwers said:
Alk is at 9.0
Ph at 9.2

Alkalinity is great. It sounds like you measured pH with maybe API or some other kind of color based test? I guess I don’t believe your pH number.

I would control kalkwasser additions to maintain alkalinity of 9 dKH. If you want to get a better pH measurement, you might need a calibrated pH probe.

ihavecrabs · Dec 11, 2018

Agreed with dwest.. Your Alkalinity sounds good, but I have a great solution for your pH woes! Stop testing for pH

IMO it is only useful if you get constant readings and can look at the trends like below. These two graphs are over a 24 hour period.

christopher.lauwers · Dec 11, 2018

Thanks for the help!!!
Just a lot of time and effort invested in the tank and hate to see things crash.

As I said fish corals everything looks great, just a lot of time and money invested in live stock and I’d hate to lose anything.

theMeat · Dec 11, 2018

Yup, amazing how light effects ph. A refuge light on when display lights are off can help with that

Cutting down on surface water moving in display and sump will cut down ph as well