What happened to my ph?

sixline · Dec 17, 2021

I’ve been traveling for the past two weeks. I set up my auto feeder to lightly feed once a day, exactly as I have done several times in the past. I also have ATO.

I’m running an Apex and monitoring ph. The ph goes through a consistent up and down and has done so for the past six months since I installed the Apex.

However, today my ph took a significant drop that is outside the normal range. I won’t be home until Sunday (although my wife returns tomorrow).

Any ideas on what may have happened?

Garf · Dec 17, 2021

sixline said:
I’ve been traveling for the past two weeks. I set up my auto feeder to lightly feed once a day, exactly as I have done several times in the past. I also have ATO.

I’m running an Apex and monitoring ph. The ph goes through a consistent up and down and has done so for the past six months since I installed the Apex.

However, today my ph took a significant drop that is outside the normal range. I won’t be home until Sunday (although my wife returns tomorrow).

Any ideas on what may have happened?

Perhaps your alkalinity dosing has gone FUBAR.

sixline · Dec 17, 2021

Garf said:
Perhaps your alkalinity dosing has gone FUBAR.

No alkalinity dosing as of yet. Still mostly softies and smaller LPS and sps.

Garf · Dec 17, 2021

sixline said:
No alkalinity dosing as of yet. Still mostly softies and smaller LPS and sps.

How significant is significant? If you got flow, you should be ok in a softy tank. Relax.

jda · Dec 17, 2021

Most likely, the probe, or whatever, fell out of calibration. pH probe is one of the least reliable pieces of equipment in the hobby - I do not recommend using them for any kind of decision making.

If the tank looks fine, then it is probably fine.

A;exr54 · Dec 17, 2021

What are the numbers?
Maybe air quality in your house while your away?

jda · Dec 17, 2021

Air quality is real, but usually more of a slow burn and usually not when humans are not home to be making so much co2. It is totally possible, though.