Question about PH

Cthehentz · Jun 17, 2019

For about 8 years my PH has always been on the lower side 7.7-7.8 and for the past few months it has been up starting at 8.0 and yesterday it peaked at 8.14. Should I start taking other measures to lower the PH?

Ron Reefman · Jun 17, 2019

Most reefers would love to have a pH of 8.14. Quite frankly, after 8 years I'm surprised you even test pH any more. I wouldn't worry about it, but I'd still test for it occasionally to see that it doesn't keep going up. Do you have more or an unusual amount of fresh air in the house? Or more turbulence at the water surface aiding in the CO2 exchange with the air? Or maybe a new skimmer or changed setting on your current skimmer (also helping with CO2 exchange with the air)?

My current tank is 2 1/2 years old and I never test for pH unless I see something going on in the tank that I feel is out of the ordinary. My normal is specific gravity, Ca and alk once a week, Mg once every 2 or 3 months. Everything else is only if something starts to look wrong and most of the time I still see everything in the proper range.

Dr. Reef · Jun 17, 2019

How are you testing pH?
Could be a calibration error?
Like Ron I have not tested pH in a decade.
8.14 is perfect if its true.

rlman41299 · Jun 17, 2019

Been reefing for a while and never chased down PH. My ph probe may be needs replacing since my ph is stable at 8.30 and sometimes goes up to 8.45 after ATO top off since it is connected to a kalk reactor

Cthehentz · Jun 17, 2019

Monitored through the APEX, and I verified that with Salifert test kit. I double recalibrated the ph probe twice and still get the same results.

Cthehentz · Jun 17, 2019

Ron Reefman said:
Most reefers would love to have a pH of 8.14. Quite frankly, after 8 years I'm surprised you even test pH any more. I wouldn't worry about it, but I'd still test for it occasionally to see that it doesn't keep going up. Do you have more or an unusual amount of fresh air in the house? Or more turbulence at the water surface aiding in the CO2 exchange with the air? Or maybe a new skimmer or changed setting on your current skimmer (also helping with CO2 exchange with the air)?

My current tank is 2 1/2 years old and I never test for pH unless I see something going on in the tank that I feel is out of the ordinary. My normal is specific gravity, Ca and alk once a week, Mg once every 2 or 3 months. Everything else is only if something starts to look wrong and most of the time I still see everything in the proper range.

To be honest I never test the water unless I see something change, PH is monitored trough the apex and that’s the only reason I noticed lol.