Playing with Neptune Apex - pH probe

pdiehm · Jun 14, 2015

ok, have had the neptune apex up and running for a few days now. If I recall reading one of Randy's articles, recommended pH is 8.1-8.3.

For the past 2 days, without dosing NO3

O4-x, my pH ranges from 7.81-7.89.

Tested the tank parameters yesterday. Alk was at 8.

It appears Kalkwasser is probably the simplest solution. I do know that when I had my cichlids, I had to supplement my water because our water here is pure 7.0, and add in the buffering salts to get the alkalinity up to 10 or 11. I'm thinking I need to do the same.

Or am I looking too much into it, kind of like, if I can maintain 7.8 and 8dKh, then my tank would be alright?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 14, 2015

If you can maintain 7-11 dKH at pH 7.8 or higher, you are good to go. Don't agonize over the pH values.

pdiehm · Jun 15, 2015

Ok. Thanks.

Isn't Alkalinity and pH tied together? If my Alk is fine, pH usually will be...right?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 15, 2015

pdiehm said:
Ok. Thanks.

Isn't Alkalinity and pH tied together? If my Alk is fine, pH usually will be...right?

No, that isn't entirely true.

pH is determined mathematically by the alkalinity and the carbon dioxide level. You can easily have reasonable alk and low pH if here is excessive CO2 in the water.