pH reallyyy high but stable

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Ford101, Aug 2, 2013.

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  1. Ford101

    Ford101 Fire Shrimp

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    So I can't get my pH to go down from 8.8! I recently switched from reef crystals to Red Sea pro salt mix. I must say the quality of salt is much better, but I'm pretty sure it's why my pH is high. It's been elevated for about 3 weeks now. It's about 8.70 in the morning to 8.88 ish for the daytime peak. Seems really stable just very high. Should I try to fix it or just leave it alone? All livestock seems totally happy. If I should fix it, how do I? I already dose vinegar as a carbon source and it doesn't really help lower it very much. I test with my neptune apex pH standard probe. Calibrated about a month ago.

    Thanks!

    Alk: 7.7 DKH
    Cal: 400 ppm
    Salinity: 1.025
    Temp: 78.7
     
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  3. Zero_Dude

    Zero_Dude Fire Shrimp

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    How long has it been since you've used the "old" salt? Are your Nitrites/Nitrates/Ammonia/Phosphates unnaturally high lately as well? (troubleshooting)

    IMO (experienced reefers please go easy on me :p ), if all your tank's inhabitants are fine with the PH level, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
     
  4. Blue Falcon

    Blue Falcon Fire Goby

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    double check with liquid test kit just to make sure your probe is still calibrated. Dont know why pH would be that high, your KH is fairly low
     
  5. Ford101

    Ford101 Fire Shrimp

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    Well I started to switch over about a month ago. I was doing a 50% mix of each salt to make the transition smooth. Now I'm using all Red Sea pro. my other parameters are fine. Nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia are all undetectable. I also know high alk can cause high pH but like blue falcon said its at a very typical level. I test alk with a Hannah checker. I'm on vacation right now but I guess I can re calibrate it when I get home. It was just done and tested spot on about a month ago though. I hear people freaking out when there pH is hitting the 8.5 range so I figured I should really find out if I'm in trouble long term.
     
  6. Ford101

    Ford101 Fire Shrimp

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  7. Marshall O

    Marshall O Giant Squid

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    This. And/or recalibrate just to make sure. But as already mentioned, if everything is happy, I don't see a reason to try and lower it.