Ph level one day fine, next day no reading?

[mr_X]

what would bring my ph so low it won't read ont he test kit color chart?
one day it's fine, the next it's super low.
i am finding myself having to use 8.3 ph buffer atleast 2 x a week.
i am not doing anything out of the ordinary to my tank.
the only thing i have added from time to time, is PURPLE UP.
i'm stumped 8O

 

[dnorton1978]

The only thing that I can think of is the test kit. On the low day take it to the LFS and see what they get, or just buy another kit. I am assuming you are doing regualar water changes and aerating the water for 24 hours prior to adding.

 

[mr_X]

yes. it's not the kit, it's the water. LFS reads the same.
and the amazing thing is...no animal seems stressed.

 

[shavo]

hey Doni, I tested my water at X's house and it read 8.2, then i tested at my house and it read 8.2

i think the test kit is sound.

he has a little problem.

 

[trido]

Where is the tank in the house? How old is the house? Maybe try to open a window and see if that helps. believe it or not, new houses can be so air tight that they can literally run low on O2 and lower PH.

 

[mr_X]

na..this is approximately 40 year old apartments. baseboard hot water heat. :?

 

[Anonymous]

Weird... :?

You may want to do a more frequent testing to see if there is any trend on the pH level. It usually does not change that dramatically unless you have a very small tank and in a room with high concentrateion of CO2.

Can't you borrow a pH meter for a week or two? This is one of the very few situation that such meter is useful.

 

[shavo]

don't take the brown acid!!!!!!