Very confused HELP!!

[Aqualung]

Started filling my 40 breeder with R O water the other day.. Added some salt{Reef crystels} got the Specific grav to 1022 so far..I have a Pin point PH monitor that I use on my Freshwater Tropheus tanks.. I calibrated it about a month ago,and it was right on with the calibration fluids..Now here is my problem, I put it in the reef tank and it starts out at 7.7 and slowly drops off,right now it's at 7.3 as I type. Also there is a whiteish type powder on the bottom of the tank,bare bottom for now, I have a power head and my old skimmer running now to keep the water moving.
Anyone know what is going on here?? I was thinking I'd see a PH of at least 8.. I even added a a bit of Seachem marine buffer the other day,PH went up then dropped right off.. HELP!!!!

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Precipitation


I bet Deanos can give you a right link to explain what's going on and how to properly mix salt water. Nothing to be alarmed as of now since no living animals are there.

 

[Aqualung]

Since I posted a few min ago the PH has dropped to 7.1 and sinking fast..

 

[juiceguy]

i believe if you calibrated your monitor for freshwater using the 4 and 7 solutions, it will not give you a correct reading for saltwater. the monitor must be calibrated with the 7 and 10 solution for saltwater.

 

[Aqualung]

It was calibrated at 7 and 10.. My tropeus tanks I keep over 8 at all times

 

[Deanos]

the monitor must be calibrated with the 7 and 10 solution for saltwater.

:agree:

 

[marki24]

i believe if you calibrated your monitor for freshwater using the 4 and 7 solutions, it will not give you a correct reading for saltwater. the monitor must be calibrated with the 7 and 10 solution for saltwater.

:iamwithst That would be correct :splitspin

 

[KathyC]

Precipitation


I bet Deanos can give you a right link to explain what's going on and how to properly mix salt water. Nothing to be alarmed as of now since no living animals are there.

Probably right on the money...was the water cold, not agitated enough when you added the salt to it?

A new batch of SW might be your best move so you start off on the right foot As you get the salinity up, the PH should follow.

Tropheus huh? Nice

...just seeing the posts above...ignore what I said if you calibrated using FW fuild...lol

 

[meschaefer]

Just let it settle out. Not a problem at this time. You want to raise your salinity a little bit, and get all of your other parameters in order. Add live rock, cycle the tank, etc. etc. If you still have low PH at that time we can address the issue then.

 

[Aqualung]

Yes the water was cold about 60 degrees,I had a power head in it for movement and still is in there..I was hoping not to have to start over,my R O unit is just about had it making that small amount of water..
Yes Kathy,Tropheus are me!!LOL I have Moops,Red Rainbows, Moliro and Kirizas at the moment..

 

[Aqualung]

I just tested it with Aquarium Pharm test kit with the drops,That shows a PH of 8.4,now I am really confused!!LOL

 

[meschaefer]

Recalibrate your PH monitor, I don't trust AP test kits either. As I said before, I wouldn't worry about it untill you have all your parameters in order.

 

[Aqualung]

I'm thinking it's the probe.. It was 8 when I took it out of my freshwater tank,now when I put it back in it's showing 7.3
Anyone know the lifespan of the probes?? This one is over 2 years old..

 

[KathyC]

Yes the water was cold about 60 degrees,I had a power head in it for movement and still is in there..I was hoping not to have to start over,my R O unit is just about had it making that small amount of water..
Yes Kathy,Tropheus are me!!LOL I have Moops,Red Rainbows, Moliro and Kirizas at the moment..

Concerned about your RO unit..do you also use it for your FW fish (just curious..nice choices!! )?
If it isn't functioning properly now, it will be more of a headache down the line. Do you have a TDS meter for it? Change the cartridges lately?

Was the 8.4 PH off the High Range card on the AP kit? ( I see Matt doesn't agree but I've found the AP kits to be satisfactory)
Can you take a water sample to a LFS and have them double check for you? Any other reefers nearby?

 

[Aqualung]

It was a brand new Coralife unit..I only made MAYBE 30 gallons after a 10 gallon flush to start.. I used COLD water,no hot mixed in at all..I do not have a TDS meter yet..Yes the reading was on the high range test kit. I am going to take a sample to AquaHut later and see what they come up with.. I dont use it on the freshwater tanks. Last Fri was the first time I used the R O unit..By the end of 30 gallons the unit was just about dripping water out..

 

[meschaefer]

It was a brand new Coralife unit..I only made MAYBE 30 gallons after a 10 gallon flush to start.. I used COLD water,no hot mixed in at all..I do not have a TDS meter yet..Yes the reading was on the high range test kit. I am going to take a sample to AquaHut later and see what they come up with.. I dont use it on the freshwater tanks. Last Fri was the first time I used the R O unit..By the end of 30 gallons the unit was just about dripping water out..

You may not have enough water pressure, it is also possible that the water is too cold.

 

[meschaefer]

( I see Matt doesn't agree but I've found the AP kits to be satisfactory)

My problem with AP test kits is quality control. If you know you have a good test kit, no problem. (I did recently use them for Ammonia and Nitrite, but I admitidly only use them during cycling )

But if I was looking at a strange result, my first instinct would be that it was the test kit.

 

[Aqualung]

It didnt say what temp water to use,I thought cold would be better

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

My tropeus tanks

When they have babies let me know.

 

[Aqualung]

Aqua Pro.. I have fry all over the tanks!!