+SChrisEV Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I recently for an APEX!!! Loving playing with it. Well last night I finally calibrated the PH probe, it seemed to be right on when testing it in the 7.0 and 10.0 solutions after the calibration. Today (right now) the APEX is reporting that my PH is at 8.83. That seems high. but wanted to get others input. I know it will change through the day, but I assume there is a "min/max" range that it should stay in. The tank temp is 80 degrees right now (that's a whole other topic I'll have to deal with) and I know the temp can affect PH, but I though only in a very minor way. Is 8.83 too high, and if so what actions should I take? I know, I know, if any action SLOW is the key. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Monnat Jr Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 High pH: Causes and Cures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 mine wont rise above 7.6 but I have a very small bioload and minimal macro algae currently. How'd you get it so high? what salt and water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Monnat Jr Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Low pH: Causes and Cures Opening windows to reduce CO2 is a big help for me. After keeping alkalinity high and ammonia low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I think im going to grab my bottle of kalk and start ading it to my ATO for my mean time, thank you George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Low pH: Causes and Cures Opening windows to reduce CO2 is a big help for me. After keeping alkalinity high and ammonia low. man you are on top of things . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Just started doing an aeration test to check in my house CO2 is too high or if I need aeration in the tank which with how large my skimmer is I don't see how I don't have enough aeration but anything is possible. If the house Co2 is too high I do have a large evac fan in the house that can change the house air completely in about 4 min so maybe I'll need to start doing that. I also added kalk to my ATO since I had to refill it today. Hopefully I'll start getting my ph to rise, and chris will get his to lower a bit with the links you shared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Thanks George, good/informative read. Now I guess I need to to confirm my probe is reading accurately and if it is (I assume it is based on my testing last night) then come up with a solutions. I know my skimmer is under performing due to an under powered pump I assume that will help with the aeration (as well as make the skimmer work better). I don't know if that will be enough, so I may have to look at other ways to get more carbon dioxide from the air into the water. The PH has already raised 9.01!! I assume this is due to the lights being on full (ramped up over the last two hours) @BIO, I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt and RO/DI water I make in the garage. I'm not sure why it's so high. I do have two pieces of limestone rock in the tank, and I understand that is supposed to help keep the PH from dropping too low, but do not expect that is the cause of the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 pperhaps you can add a Calcium reactor to your system so you inject co2 and keep bringing ph down. I think that is part of the reason mine is low is because of the calcium reactor being online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 OK, now I'm starting to freak out. My PH is up to 9.17, I suppose I should not, it's probably been this way for days now, just now I'm monitoring it regularly with the APEX! But still!!! If I was home, or rather not in meetings off and on all day (I'd go home) I would have already tried added some Distilled White Vinegar, or even soda water.... grrr pesky work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Monnat Jr Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Yea, I love the Apex but there's nothing worse than being at work or out-of-town and seeing something odd happening to your parameters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Did you calibrate the pH probe ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Yes I did. And after the calibration was complete, I tested the probe in both the 7.0 and the 10.0 solutions, and in both cases the probe reported 7.0 and 10.0 respectively. I plan on re-testing the probe as soon as I can before I make any changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Did you calibrate the pH probe ? I recently for an APEX!!! Loving playing with it. Well last night I finally calibrated the PH probe, it seemed to be right on when testing it in the 7.0 and 10.0 solutions after the calibration. Now I know you didnt ask me, but please don't hate me for trying to help you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 WOW! What the **** was I typing "I recently for an APEX!!!" I need to learn to slow down and read what I type before I hit the post button. Or maybe I use the excuse that I'm at work, and posting quickly in between other activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Dang. Sorry was on a phone and totally missed that part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Any chance the pH cal fluid is expired or old ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Great question, I did not notice (or even look) is there was an expiration date on the package. I just got the APEX from BRS last week, I would hope it is not expired! At the same time, that would make me feel better! Anyways to test it without the solution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 If you just got it, it's probably just fine. Just wanted to rule out measurement error before you start fixing a problem that may not exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Yeah, get a 2nd opinion first to confirm before you start altering anything. Just take some water to one of our LFS and have then confirm the high pH reading. My 2 cents. -Ty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Stopped by HEB and picked up some distilled white vinegar on my way home, just in case. When I got home the pH reading was 9.45!!! First thing I did was break out the API High pH test kit and did a good old fashion manual test. Reading was about 8.0. No way I coulda been that far off with the manual test. So dropped the probe in the 7.0 solution it read 7.0... dropped it in the 10.0 solutions read.... 11.1! Okay! So I did (to the best of my ability, more in a second) another probe calibration. Tested it with the 7.0 and the 10.0 solution. Seems good, the 10.0 was a bit low 9.99, but went with it. The tank is now reading 8.15 pH. I'm happy with that number. We'll see if the probe stays relatively steady (or at least consistent given two different days about the same time). If not maybe it's a bad probe, or maybe I need to calibrate it again. So on to that and the "to the best of my ability" statement, last night when I was cleaning up after my calibration I spilled a good bit of the 10.0 solutions so tonight I did not have much solutions left. Does AquaDome, or RCA carry this solution to test with? if so I'll pickup some more just in case. Thanks to all of your help, sorry for the false alarm. I love the APEX, but man, as you pointed out George, an "odd" reading kinda throw off my day today for nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I bought packets of 10.0 from RCA they have it hanging on the wall above the sand and supplements right outside the saltwater room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Wow. Glad you don't seem to actually have a problem. Good luck with the apex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Well right now the pH probe is reading 8.63 up from about 8.06 around 8:00 am. I will pick up more solution this weekend to calibrate again and test with. 8.63 is not overly high (I guess) but that seems like quite a swing. I wonder if I have a faulty probe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Definitely a possibility. When you're calibrating, make sure to let that number settle before you push the "calibrate" button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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