High Ph in my reeftank

[georgeortiz]

Alright,
I probably remembered maybe 1% of the discussion topic we had at Gator's house and that 1% is now gone.
My tank has had a constant high Ph reading between 8.5 and 8.7 depending on when you take a reading. Should I be worried about this?

My alkalinity and Calcium levels are good but, the high Ph concerns me. I have read that a Ph of up to 9.0 is fine for fish but, what about my inverts and corals. Do I need to keep acting like a nervous hen hovering over my tank or IS IT ALL GOOD!

[matt]

What kind of salt are you using, how do you replenish calcium and carbonate, and what are you using to test your ph?

[georgeortiz]

Matt,
What kind of salt are you using: Instant ocean mix

how do you replenish calcium and carbonate?
via water changes and diy 2 part mix

what are you using to test your ph? I am using a Hanah meter

[matt]

okay, then IO doesn't typically mix to a high ph. Your DIY 2 part supplement is suspect. What ingredients are you using? Are you mixing washing soda in with baking soda for your carbonate supplement? If so, that's one explanation. Try using straight baking soda as a carbonate supplement. I think the hannah meter is the same one I'm using. You need to calibrate it often, then remove a water sample into a clean plastic or glass container, and check the sample away from any electrical interference, like lights and/or stray voltage in the tank. You also should confirm the ph reading with a test kit. Once you've confirmed your ph by calibrating the meter and checking with a kit, if you're still above 8.5, try the straight baking soda. 8.5-8.7 is too high for alot of invertibrates. Reef ph varies from 7.9-8.3 or so, if I remember correctly.

[JimD]

diy two part mix? hmmmm.
8.5 is within the acceptable range, anything above for prolonged periods of time can be harmfull.

[GeorgeH]

This is the first time I have heard of using baking soda to replenish the carbonate. At what dosage levels are acceptable? I am courious now.

[GaryP]

George,

What are you using for your buffer portion of your 2 part mix? As Matt said, double check the calibration on your pH meter. If you haven't done that I would suspect that is your problem. A difference of 0.3-.4 is very likely if it hasn't been calibrated. How old is your electrode? You might want to double check it against a pH test kit.

If it is truly high, switching from straight baking soda instead of the baking/washing soda mixture should get it back down in a week or so. Your only other option is to slowly drip vinegar into the tank to bring it down. I would very strongly suggest that you make sure you are accurately measuring your pH before doing this. Also remember that you should change the pH very slowly.

Gary

[GaryP]

I checked my pH today after answering your post. It was actually a little low, about 8.0. As I'm sure you know, I use a DIY 2 part additive. I made up some Kalk to add tonight.

Did anyone ever find any Dowflake? I need some calcium and would like to give it a try.

Gary

[Instar]

What and how much of it is in your refugium? How strong are the lights on the fuge, what kind are they, and what is the photo period in the fuge?

[georgeortiz]

Thanks guys,
I am going to get another ph test kit as a reference and will recalibrate my meter. I always take a sample and measure it there. I am using straight baking soda for the alkalinity supplement. FYI I am using the second recipe that was posted on the advanced aquarist issue GaryP posted a few weeks ago.

To answer your question instar I have Calupera in my fuge with some hermits and snails and keep the light on 24/7. The small amount I was given to seed the fuge has grown quite well.

[Instar]

A healthy growth of caulerpa with good lighting 24/7 in a 20 gallon fuge for a 110 tank can take your pH to over 9.0. It won't come down so long as the photoperiod is 24 hours. It will only fluctuate because of the added algae contribution from the main tank during the daytime. Once you're done calibrating, testing and testing some more, if you come up with no solution, start cutting time off the fuge photoperiod in the late afternoon. An hour at first, then extend by 10 minutes every other day till you get to at least 6 hours of dark during the daytime. That will help your pH out and do so gradually within the daily fuctuations that are already occurring. You can check the variation in the fuge by finding a part that circulates with the main tank water the least, near the surface and in a dense patch of caulerpa and test the pH to see if its a bit higher than your tank. If the meter is sensitive enough and you pick a good spot, you'll see it. Don't start on the photoperiod until you're done testing and calibrating as mentioned above in case it is just the pH probe being a little off.

[GaryP]

Larry,

Good catch on the fuge. Thanks. I hadn't thought about that.

George,

There is no way that straight baking soda could make your pH be to high. Baking Soda will actually work to push you pH down. My best guess is still that you have a measurement problem with your pH meter.

Gary

[georgeortiz]

Thanks guys,
I think I have enough here to go back and use so I can troubleshoot the ph issue.

[GaryP]

George,

Let us know how it turns out.

Gary

[georgeortiz]

Sure,
I just had to re order some calibration packs because I was out and I am going to pick up another ph test kit this week.

[georgeortiz]

I haven't forgotten to get back with you guys regarding my PH levels in the tank. I got my calibration kits in and will let you guys know over the weekend what happens. I am guessing that GaryP was right and that the meter needed to be recalibrated because everything in the tank is doing awesome. I am getting growth from my corals and and my fish are doing great as well as my inverts. I have even seen a small snail or two creeping around. I am starting to get less mother henish about my tank and just going with the flow. Everything in the fuge is doing great as well plenty of Calupera growth.