High pH 8.7

[reef_dadi]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been struggling with high pH that last 3 days after setting up my Reef Factory KH Keeper. I keep my alkalinity around 8.5-9.5….lights on at 11am, peak from 4-9pm and low light from 9-11pm. I run a controlled 5” ball of chaeto at night with fuge light on from 11pm-9am. I’m also dosing kalkwasser from my IceCap reactor. 4tsp of kalk mixed in RODI. I dose at the top of the hour 60ml/hr during lights on and 40ml/hr during lights out. On 8/18 my pH was 8.39 and as of 10am today, 8/21 im at 8.72 with dkh remaining stable this entire time. What would be causing this? And will my corals/fish be okay when it is this high? Also, just to be safe, I cross-checked with my Hanna tester and it read 8.6 when RF tester read 8.7pH.

 

[MnFish1]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been struggling with high pH that last 3 days after setting up my Reef Factory KH Keeper. I keep my alkalinity around 8.5-9.5….lights on at 11am, peak from 4-9pm and low light from 9-11pm. I run a controlled 5” ball of chaeto at night with fuge light on from 11pm-9am. I’m also dosing kalkwasser from my IceCap reactor. 4tsp of kalk mixed in RODI. I dose at the top of the hour 60ml/hr during lights on and 40ml/hr during lights out. On 8/18 my pH was 8.39 and as of 10am today, 8/21 im at 8.72 with dkh remaining stable this entire time. What would be causing this? And will my corals/fish be okay when it is this high? Also, just to be safe, I cross-checked with my Hanna tester and it read 8.6 when RF tester read 8.7pH.

No offense, but either with a supercomputer it would be difficult to parse together all of the possibilities given your schedules. However, Keeping it simple - it's possible one of your tests is incorrect. Second - you're pH or 8.72 - are you sure the measurement is correct - I mean even 3 days ago, (if I'm reading correctly) your pH was 8.5 which is a bit high?

 

[reef_dadi]

No offense, but either with a supercomputer it would be difficult to parse together all of the possibilities given your schedules. However, Keeping it simple - it's possible one of your tests is incorrect. Second - you're pH or 8.72 - are you sure the measurement is correct - I mean even 3 days ago, (if I'm reading correctly) your pH was 8.5 which is a bit high?

My tank historically is around 8.3 to 8.5pH. The tank is in an office room that isn’t used often during the day or in the middle of the night and has a window AC unit bringing in “fresh air”. I also get a ton of oxygenation created by my skimmer, corals, 2 gyres in the display and one in the sump, accompanied by my chaeto and kalkwasser dosing. However, I’ve never seen it above 8.5 until recently.

 

[landlubber]

No offense, but either with a supercomputer it would be difficult to parse together all of the possibilities given your schedules. However, Keeping it simple - it's possible one of your tests is incorrect. Second - you're pH or 8.72 - are you sure the measurement is correct - I mean even 3 days ago, (if I'm reading correctly) your pH was 8.5 which is a bit high?

My thoughts as well.
While i'm sure there are exceptions the most likely scenario is the probe being out of calibration and spitting out wonky numbers.
Two questions, 1. Have you calibrated your probe? 2. Any chance you have a LFS that is able to test your water for comparison?

 

[MnFish1]

PS - there is also the issue of the high and low of the day - if the 8.72 is an absolute high (too high) - what is it at night - there are numerous things you could do - including turning off some of your lights - in your fuges.

 

[reef_dadi]

PS - there is also the issue of the high and low of the day - if the 8.72 is an absolute high (too high) - what is it at night - there are numerous things you could do - including turning off some of your lights - in your fuges.

My pH tends to remain within the same range at night as it does during the day. Based on the chart posted above. I have an adjustable intensity grow light and have it down to about 30% currently to lessen photosynthesis during the 10 hour run time. Would you recommend running it for maybe 6hrs between lights on/off cycle for the display?

 

[MnFish1]

My pH tends to remain within the same range at night as it does during the day. Based on the chart posted above. I have an adjustable intensity grow light and have it down to about 30% currently to lessen photosynthesis during the 10 hour run time. Would you recommend running it for maybe 6hrs between lights on/off cycle for the display?

No the key is making sure your pH is reading correctly first - before anything else (that was my point) - it's a high pH 8.5 - without the issues you mentioned.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the pH actually is that high, it may not be a problem but more aeration will lower it.

 

[landlubber]

No the key is making sure your pH is reading correctly first - before anything else (that was my point) - it's a high pH 8.5 - without the issues you mentioned.

agreed... one problem at a time.
too many at once and you end up resolving problems that never existed to begin with.
Don't ask me how I know and why I own 2 apex's yet only run one tank lol

 

[reef_dadi]

If the pH actually is that high, it may not be a problem but more aeration will lower it.

Thanks Randy! If you say it’s not a problem and the coral still look happy…I’ll leave it alone. Picture taken today of my confetti acro at 8.7pH for reference on health.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Thanks Randy! If you say it’s not a problem and the coral still look happy…I’ll leave it alone. Picture taken today of my confetti acro at 8.7pH for reference on health.

i reduced mine by stopping the kalk during day, because my ph was climbing up to like 8.6 in day, and started dosing All for reef during day, and kalk at night to keep ph up. been working well for me the last several months.