PH question

[MarcusCarcus71]

My PH is off the chart, I used a dip stick, I used seatest, I used Hagen PH testers

here are specs

1.023
akalinity 3 different testers
110 125 dip stick over 300
Nitrate nitrite ammonia perfect
phos 0
calcium 425 to 450


65 gallon with 2 250 D/E 10K and 2 55 actinic PCS
hang on overflow with amiricale 75 sump

100lbs live rock
5acro frags
7inch derasa clam
some montipora
some zoos which are at the bottom and have been half open since this problem

I added 75lbs of figi live rock 2 months ago.

I used to add tech CB part A nad B every 2 to 3 days, I stopped due to PH problem.

I started doing 5 gallon water changes every 2 days, I have always used RO water too.

any help would be great. ??Should I use the PH down stuff?? heard mixed things

 

[jdeets]

What is your pH? I didn't see where you said what your readings are.

Also--alkalinity stabilizes pH. You can get wild pH swings if your alk is low. High alkalinity won't necessarily make your pH "off the chart" on the high side, but will generally stabilize pH. Assuming your alk was way too low, you might be aggravating the problem by stopping your additives.

RO water--do you have your own filter or do you buy it from the LFS? If you have your own RO system, do you change the filters regularly?

It also looks like you need some dependable tests. My experience with dip sticks is that they are not worth a crap. Titration is the best way to test for mineral content--i.e., Salifert or simlar test.

When you say 110, 125, 300 for alkalinity, what units are you referencing? I'd expect to see something between 2 and 14, depending on whether you were using meq or dkh, but those numbers for alkalinity are not meaningful to me.

 

[MarcusCarcus71]

I have my own RO theI switched filters 3 months ago.

the dKH is at 110 t0 125. The meg is 2.5

My Ph is past the 8.8, so I cant really tell exactly where its at.

I ordered my akal and ph testers yesterday, salifer.

I thought Hagen was a okay test, I am on my second complete kit, I have used it for about 2 years now.

would me adding M/H about 4 months ago, and just moving 3 months ago and then adding the 75 lbs create this problem? could it be that the tank needs to re-establish.

 

[Len]

I would wait until you test again with the new (better) test kits before doing anything. Hagens aren't all that accurate to begin with, and 2 year old test kits are bound to be expired (yes, test kits don't last forever). FYI: C-balance shouldn't increase your pH.

Don't use the pH down stuff.

On another note, I'd raise the specific gravity from 1.023 to 1.025-1.027 slowly over a series of water changes. 1.023 is well below natural seawater levels (only very old texts recommend s.g. that low).

 

[jdeets]

The MH would definitely support pH, but shouldn't make it go "off the chart." Additional LR shouldn't do that either, especially since it's been 3-4 months.

Question--have you tried doing a pH test on freshly-mixed water? When you do your next water change, try that. If freshly mixed water is testing way high, then it may be your tests. If it's high with three different ones, then that is not likely, but you don't want to try to change something without ruling out the test kits as the problem.

When did this problem arise? Did you see it trending upward over time, or did it jump off the chart suddenly?

I would probably do 10 gallon w/c every day or two to get the pH down--assuming your test kits check out OK. Your livestock will be suffering if it's really that high.

I'm not familiar with those particular supplements and their chemical makeup but I'd be curious to know whether anyone else using them has had a similar problem. If your pH gradually rose over time I'd point to the supplements or they way you are using them--if it was sudden, then probably not, unless there was a spill or accident where a lot of something was added suddenly.

I'm not familiar with the pH down products--I'll have to defer to others regarding whether those are safe. At any rate, that should only be used as a "band-aid" while you try to figure out what is making your pH so high to start with.

 

[Len]

C-balance is similiar to B-ionic, and neither should raise your pH to unnaturally high levels.

 

[MarcusCarcus71]

you guys are great.

I will wait for new kit to come in.

my live stock consist of 1 manadrine.

i didnt have a whole lot of time the last 2 months due to the whole buying a house thing, so i never really check my params. I finaly have settled down, and did my checks about 2 weeks ago. I know its my fault, so again thanks for all the help.

Isnt 10 gallons a day to much for a 65 gallon.

 

[Len]

10 gallons a day with a slightly more saline water is a good way to bring up your specific gravity. However, it really doesn't do much in terms of correcting chemical imbalances (repeated 10% dilution mathematically doesn't add up to much). I'd wait to see what your new test kits say, then if necessary, make a large water change to help correct the problem. Make sure, of course, to test your water change water to rule it out as a possible reason you're seeing excessively high pH. I still think it's old/bad test kits.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think you could have those ALK & Calcium levels with a PH that high. I'm not positive but I'd think Calcium would precipitate to unsaturated levels. I agree with the above that your PH test kit is off.

The safest way to raise Salinity in my opinion is to just topoff with full strength saltwater instead of freshwater until Salinity is up to where you want it.