PH reading at over 8.6 on test kit

[Joeush123]

Hi the past 2 weeks my corals have begun to deteriorate, however my carpet anemone, fish and inverts are fine. when testing the PH with salifirt test kits it is reading blue i.e over 8.6 and i have used two different test kits to check this, just a bit stumped on what could cause this.

 

[SCReef'n]

That seems too high to sustain. I’d suspect the test kit but what additives are you adding to the tank?

 

[Joeush123]

That seems too high to sustain. I’d suspect the test kit but what additives are you adding to the tank?

I have a DD ocean dosing pump that doses the Triton method, and then i feed with reef roids and use vibrant liquid.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You pH is almost certainly not that high unless you are using very high pH additives such as kalkwasser. Kits are not a good way to measure pH.

This has more:

pH And The Reef Aquarium
http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

 

[Joeush123]

You pH is almost certainly not that high unless you are using very high pH additives such as kalkwasser. Kits are not a good way to measure pH.

This has more:

pH And The Reef Aquarium
http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

I’ve done some water changes and the PH is now reading back to 8.3, however none of my coral are still coming out and the rest of my parameters seem fine and no pests are eating them either

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve done some water changes and the PH is now reading back to 8.3, however none of my coral are still coming out and the rest of my parameters seem fine and no pests are eating them either

FWIW, water changes are not good way to deal with pH issues, but I expect your issue is something else, perhaps which a water change might help.

pH is determined completely by alkalinity and the CO2 level int eh water, which is often driven by CO2 in your home air. Thus, water changes help little.

 

[Joeush123]

FWIW, water changes are not good way to deal with pH issues, but I expect your issue is something else, perhaps which a water change might help.

pH is determined completely by alkalinity and the CO2 level int eh water, which is often driven by CO2 in your home air. Thus, water changes help little.

yes the issue must be something else as the PH is now stable again, however corals are still dying,kinda stumped on what could be killing them as my green carpet anemone is expanded and healthy. Could a lack of phosphate cause coral death?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

yes the issue must be something else as the PH is now stable again, however corals are still dying,kinda stumped on what could be killing them as my green carpet anemone is expanded and healthy. Could a lack of phosphate cause coral death?

Yes, but it needs to be very low.