PH staying high

[Luke Schnabel]

I have a 120g display, 40g frag tank and a 75g sump. Total water ~200g
In sump I'm running a 12"x18" section that is packed with Macro algae with lights on durning the night.

Using 2-Part to dose. Sodium Bicarbonate every 2hrs @ 75ml per day. Alk saying around 7.5 dkh

My PH has been running high for a few months now. 8.2-low 8.5-high. Just within the last few weeks my pH has been around 8.3-low 8.65-high

New probe in July and I re calibrated it twice in the last two weeks. Same results, high pH.

It's been winter here for quite some time so house has been sealed up. It's not the tightest of houses but still nothing like having windows open in summer.

I'm really wondering what could be going on to make my tanks pH stay so high. I would love for an 8.2-8.3 average. Any thoughts?

 

[Brew12]

I have a 120g display, 40g frag tank and a 75g sump. Total water ~200g
In sump I'm running a 12"x18" section that is packed with Macro algae with lights on durning the night.

Using 2-Part to dose. Sodium Bicarbonate every 2hrs @ 75ml per day. Alk saying around 7.5 dkh

My PH has been running high for a few months now. 8.2-low 8.5-high. Just within the last few weeks my pH has been around 8.3-low 8.65-high

New probe in July and I re calibrated it twice in the last two weeks. Same results, high pH.

It's been winter here for quite some time so house has been sealed up. It's not the tightest of houses but still nothing like having windows open in summer.

I'm really wondering what could be going on to make my tanks pH stay so high. I would love for an 8.2-8.3 average. Any thoughts?

Are you getting your calibration fluids to the same temperature as your tank when you calibrate it?
Are you using temperature compensation on your pH probe?
Do you have a test kit for pH you can use?

What level is your magnesium at?

 

[Luke Schnabel]

My home temp was about 70 when tested and the tank is 78... will that effect it much?

I do not have a kit but I'm about to get one because of this issue I'm having.

My mg is 1370-1400

 

[Brew12]

My home temp was about 70 when tested and the tank is 78... will that effect it much?

I do not have a kit but I'm about to get one because of this issue I'm having.

My mg is 1370-1400

Nope, not if it is functioning correctly.

I know mg can cause some complex interactions with alk, but it shouldn't be an issue at those levels either.

I think you should start getting precipitation at around 8.5pH making it very difficult to get pH to 8.65 without some other factor being involved. Also, your Alk is low for pH anywhere near that level. I'll be interested to see what you get with a test kit!

 

[Brew12]

Finally found the article I was looking for.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That pH isn't a problem if real, but I expect it is not. pH very rarely gets that high in an aerated tank without dosing limewater.

 

[Luke Schnabel]

I have never dosed lime water. I also wondered how it could be that high with an alkalinity being lower.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have never dosed lime water. I also wondered how it could be that high with an alkalinity being lower.

Probably error. pH is NEVER too high with what you are dosing.

 

[Luke Schnabel]

Ok thanks, I'm ordering a PH test and some more calibrating fluid. If test shows lower while a freshly calibrated PH prob is off I'll end up just getting a new probe. It's only 5 months old though

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What sort of meter? Remember that pH measurement/calibration is temperature sensitive, so if you do not calibrate at tank temp, or do not use a temp sensor to adjust for the difference, the measurement may be off.

If the pH is peaking too high, more aeration will bring it down to normal levels.

 

[Luke Schnabel]

I have an apex. When I measured, the tank is 78 and my house was 70... will that effect it?
My skimmer uses a bubble blaster 3000 which pulls in 1,100 L/H... I could see if adding stones works too