ph question

[NYreefNoob]

ok after finally installing the ph probe on my ac jr and doing the calibration, it seems my ph in tank is at 8.64 havent been dosing tank. only been running for almost 2 weeks now, everything was switched from my 62. and i know do a water change, { doing it sat } but how other wise can i lower it

 

[Deanos]

Lower it to what?

 

[KathyC]

Did you double check it with a test kit? Best to do so before you adjust it.

The simplest way to do so is to aerate the water..open a window in the room (so your room air has more oxygen than carbon dioxide in it) and use an airpump with an airstone on it.

Or you can try one of these methods:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php

 

[NYreefNoob]

ph

ty kathy i found it after posting, going to get some soda water tommorrow, isnt 8.66 high for ph ? and stupid question but how do i test ph other than with a test kit, i did as the directions stated in manual and used the 7.0 and the 10. to calibrate it

 

[KathyC]

and stupid question but how do i test ph other than with a test kit, i did as the directions stated in manual and used the 7.0 and the 10. to calibrate it

Umm...lol..use a test kit..you know the stuff with the little bottles with the luquid in them & the test tube...as in test kit?

No vinegar in the house? That's a good solution also.
Your PH isn't that high to start with...

 

[vanceny]

Lower it to what?

It seems pretty obvious that his pH is slightly on the high side. More importanly than high pH are the swings that may be occuring. If the pH is stable at that number then you have less to worry about.

Quoting from RHF

"the pH range from 7.8 to 8.5 is an acceptable range for reef aquaria, with several caveats"

and also,

"Likewise, one of the problems at higher pH (anywhere above 8.2, but progressively more problematic with each incremental rise) is the abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate, resulting in a drop in calcium and alkalinity, and the clogging of heaters and pump impellers. If you push the pH to 8.4 or higher (as often happens when using limewater), make sure that both the calcium and alkalinity levels are suitably maintained (that is, neither too low, inhibiting biological calcification, nor too high, causing excessive abiotic precipitation on equipment)."

And finally if you haven't read this yet,

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php#6

It will give several possible reasons for the high pH. I've tried using vinegar to lower my pH but it generally seems to gradually increase probably due to using limewater.

Hope that helps.

 

[vanceny]

beat me to it Kathy.

 

[vanceny]

I think you actually want to have more CO2 than oxygen in this case thus the addition of seltzer will help drive the pH down.

 

[NYreefNoob]

ph

i new ya meant the test kit to test water. wasn't sure though if ya meant the controller. i am going to watch it for a few days before i do anything, and if i do it will be with the seltzer

 

[House of Laughter]

rick,

I would calibrate more than once if not 3x - sometimes it takes a few times to get it right with the probe etc.

Try a couple times in a row to calibrate and see what you get -

House

 

[autoponicz]

true with doing several calibrations....

when i installed my RK2 ...ii calibrated my ph probe a few times and im still not sure if i got it right.......now i have learned to maintain my alk/ca/mag and ph is a steady 8.2 (hope probe is right)

 

[vanceny]

This is the same reason I posted a question about which pH test kits others recommended. I ordered the fastest / instant ocean kit. From what I've read it gives pretty good results compared to monitors and probes.