pH toooooo low!

[GoVols]

I'm not a calcium reactor guy, and I know they work at pH's down in the 6.5 range since they use carbonic acid to do the dissolving. I just can't figure out how it could drop the entire sump that low if it wasn't running.

Calibration could be an issue, but that would have to be WAY off since pH is a log scale.

I'd run a cross check with a Salifert ph kit.

 

[Velcro]

I

I'm not a calcium reactor guy, and I know they work at pH's down in the 6.5 range since they use carbonic acid to do the dissolving. I just can't figure out how it could drop the entire sump that low if it wasn't running.

Calibration could be an issue, but that would have to be WAY off since pH is a log scale.

It wasn't running, it couldn't.

 

[Brew12]

I'd run a cross check with a Salifert ph kit.

The issue I have is that if this is "only" a calibration issue the tank would need to be running at 8.4-8.6pH normally. I'm not buying that. Not unless the Alk is in above 12dkh with lots of fresh air/algae.

 

[d2mini]

I just figured it was a stagnant water issue.

 

[GoVols]

I just figured it was a stagnant water issue.

Just asking:
Was your cal reactor on, during the six hour shut down?

 

[Potatohead]

I am also beginning to suspect an equipment problem. Your pH goes to 7.57, exactly, each time? Odd.

 

[d2mini]

Just asking:
Was your cal reactor on, during the six hour shut down?

No, just the internal circulation. Feed pump and c02 solenoid were unplugged.

I am also beginning to suspect an equipment problem. Your pH goes to 7.57, exactly, each time? Odd.

Yes, each morning it seems to bottom out at about that number. This week anyway.
I'm not ruling it out, but I haven't seen signs over the long term that the probe is suddenly defective.

 

[Potatohead]

No, just the internal circulation. Feed pump and c02 solenoid were unplugged.


Yes, each morning it seems to bottom out at about that number. This week anyway.
I'm not ruling it out, but I haven't seen signs over the long term that the probe is suddenly defective.

Do you run a probe in your reactor? Try swapping them.

 

[GoVols]

I am also beginning to suspect an equipment problem. Your pH goes to 7.57, exactly, each time? Odd.

That's why I'd retest with a ph kit.

@Velcro 's cup test is a good idea too.

 

[d2mini]

Do you run a probe in your reactor? Try swapping them.

ya, i can do that but would probably have to recalibrate since its calibrated with the lower calibration fluids.

That's why I'd retest with a ph kit.

@Velcro 's cup test is a good idea too.

Yup, i don't have a reef ph kit but I have a saltwater pool test kit that should work, no?

 

[GoVols]

Yup, i don't have a reef ph kit but I have a saltwater pool test kit that should work, no?

Lol!!!
I'm clueless on a pool kit.

At least it's for a saltwater pool

Tagging

 

[d2mini]

Well i figure ph is ph so that's what I'm going to use.

 

[Velcro]

Saltwater pool test kit? I knew you were fancy but dang.

 

[d2mini]

Saltwater pool test kit? I knew you were fancy but dang.

LOL! Dude, it's a ghetto above ground pool from Academy Sports.
Comes with chinese sand filter but I added the same cheap brand saltwater filter to it. lol
https://www.amazon.com/Intex-Rectangular-Filter-Ladder-Ground/dp/B073FMDBLJ/

But the family has a blast. Even my wife and I since it has 4' of water in it.
Sooooo worth it, even if I only get a couple seasons out of it. No way i'm spending 50+k on an in-ground pool.
And the filters have worked great. The water is always so clear I hardly ever test it.
Only pain in the butt is removing all the leaves every week. Putting the cover on is even more hassle so I don't bother.

Since this thread is on hold until I get home later, here's a little show and tell. haha

Even installed new circuits for the pumps.
Trenching through/under tree roots in the 100+ degree heat was not fun!!!

 

[bubbaque]

Hey, I have that same pool, lol! I don't have that fancy pole for the outlets though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well i figure ph is ph so that's what I'm going to use.

It may be OK, but isn't guaranteed to be so. The pKa of ions in seawater generally shifts from freshwater (because it is easier to make ions in seawater than fresh due to all the other ions around it, stabilizing it), so the color change (which is a change of ionic state of the dyes as the pH changes) can take place at a slightly different pH.

For example, the pKa (the half point of this acid base reaction) of this transition for phospathe changes a lot:

H2PO4- <----> H+ + HPO4--

pKa pure water: 7.20
pKa seawater; 5.86

So if one of these forms was a different color than the other and you used it as a pH indicator (color change would be near the pKa), it might be off by more than a full pH unit in seawater compared to pure fresh water.

 

[Potatohead]

Hey, I have that same pool, lol! I don't have that fancy pole for the outlets though.

Weak

It may be OK, but isn't guaranteed to be so. The pKa of ions in seawater generally shifts from freshwater (because it is easier to make ions in seawater than fresh due to all the other ions around it, stabilizing it), so the color change (which is a change of ionic state of the dyes as the pH changes) can take place at a slightly different pH.

For example, the pKa (the half point of this acid base reaction) of this transition for phospathe changes a lot:

H2PO4- <----> H+ + HPO4--

pKa pure water: 7.20
pKa seawater; 5.86

So if one of these forms was a different color than the other and you used it as a pH indicator (color change would be near the pKa), it might be off by more than a full pH unit in seawater compared to pure fresh water.

The pool is saltwater

 

[d2mini]

Hey, I have that same pool, lol! I don't have that fancy pole for the outlets though.

Weak

ROFL!!!!!

The pool is saltwater

True, but saltwater pools have a much lower concentration of salt. It's equivalent to human tears.
Throw some tankwater in your eyes and tell me how that feels.

 

[Scorpius]

I use this. Buy the calibration kit and calibrate every time you use it. Works a heck of a lot better than Salifert.
http://hmdigital.com/product/ph-200/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The pool is saltwater

Sorry, i thought we were talking about using a pool pH kit (or even a hobby freshwater pH kit) for pH in seawater. That's my concern.