PH

[BIGBIRD123]

Is a ph of 8.6 HIGH? If so what do I need to do to get it back down? It normally runs at 8.2-8.4, don't know why it's up. Any help appreciated.

Steve

[akm]

I think you're supposed to mix baking soda with some water and use that to top off, but there might be something else to it. I dont know if you are supposed to do that if it is usually around 8.2 and it fluctuates just once. That might have something to do with the alkalintity.

[NaCl_H2O]

Steve, what are you using to measure PH? 8.6 when normal is 8.2-8.4 isn't a huge swing and may just be a late-day reading and some inaccuracy in testing. I would expect it to come down once the lights are out a few hours - check it again before doing anything drastic. Really high PH can be offset with A LITTLE vinegar in a turbulent area of your sump - but need to add a little and check. This would be a DRASTIC measure if it kept climbing. If it edges down on its own, I would leave it alone.

What's your Alk reading?

[Instar]

When I had good lights on a really strong macro growth, mine has gone up to over 9.0 by the end of the day. Check the pH in the early morning before the photo period starts and see what it is. Don't try to "fix it" right away and if you are dripping kalk, cut it back a little till you get measurements from different times of the day to verify what is going on and to verify your pH testor. Check the measure on other tanks and a known pH solution, even some freshly mixed salt will verify the meter is reading correctly. pH probes may need cleaned or conditioned from time to time to maintain accuracy.

[BIGBIRD123]

Well I tested my probe in my other tank and it read 8.5. Then I tested it in plain bottled water and it read 9.1. I tested my KH/Alk and it was KH- 10.7 and Alk- 3.33. I do however have good macro growth, but haven't dripped any kalk recently. So, wassup?

Steve

[GaryP]

Steve,

Have you ever calibrated your pH probe? It should be calibrated on a regular basis with at least two different pH standards. How old is the probe? They usually need to be replaced once a year. How do you store the probe between uses. It needs to be stored in a potassium chloride storage solution.

You are experiencing why I rarely recommend a pH meter. Most hobbyists rarely maintain them the way they need to be and they end up creating more questions then they answer.

[JimD]

I would never dose kalk without a Ph meter. Thats asking for trouble. They need maintenance just like anything else reef related...

[NaCl_H2O]

I suspect the probe too. I calibrate mine with 10 & 7 NIST standards about every 2-3 months. I also keep around a Salifert PH test kit so I can double check now & then.

My lesson learned - don't trust anything reef related that has a battery in it!

[scuba_steveo]

Do not add any buffers without testing using a kit. Mine was always running low on my aquacontroller so I started adding buffer like crazy but it would not go up. Turns out my Ph was fine all along but my probe is broke. Now I just use test kits.