Ph problem

[mrc]

hi new to this site and i am in need of advice my ph has gone down from8.4to8.1 since wed when i did a water change i used same salt as when i set up im using berlin system using a resun exterrior filter for flow and have 35k of lr any ideas what i can get in morn to rectify quick ans would be appreiated thanks

[SteveS]

hi mrc, welcome to the site....

have you done a retest on your ph?

did you do the test at the same time in the day? do you have a sump with off set lighting?

8.1 aint nothing to worry bout imo

steve

[mrc]

thanks steve being new i do tend to panic itested on wed at approx 2pm and tonight at7pm and ill test in tomorrow at 2pm never realised it could flunctuate like that thanks again Roy

[Tangman]

Hi MRC welcome to RC. The best time to test is when the lights have just gone off this is when it will be the highest. PH in a marine system is affected by many things, how much surface movement there is, if you have fresh air from outside coming into the room where the tank is etc. If i were you i would not worry to much as SteveS has said as 8,1 is a good reading, my PH reads 8.1 on a night and 7.99 on a morning and as long as my fish etc all seem ok i dont worry. HTH. Eric

[Kev]

I would echo the above. In my experience PH does fluctuate day / nighttime. I would not be worried with 8.1. I have not carried out a test for 7 months mind you, but would not advocate this as being the right way to go, I just detest doing them.

With your new system and as a beginner you are right to do water tests, as this can be a pretty unstable period for a new developing system.

Kev

[Chris, Reef Ranch]

PH Drift or Drop
PH drop can be analysed by using a probe that has been calibrated prior to use. Using fresh buffers first set the instrument to pH 7 and then the upper set point of pH 10. Measure your pH in peak photoperiod (described earlier) and then in the morning before the lights have come on. The difference between the two readings is your pH drop. We used to think pH drops of 0.4 or more were normal. This to me indicates that something is wrong! In my opinion a pH drop of 0.2 or more indicates that DO is low.


You must use a probe to get an accurate measurement of pH. It is also not relevant what you run at as long it is around 8 and it doesn't drop significantly at night. The probe MUST be calibrated with 7 & 10 FRESH buffers every time you take a reading. No pH probe can continuously monitor pH accurately!!!!

Chris

[Kev]

Now I feel guilty for not having done a PH test for 7 months.:D

Kev

[Gillybaby]

Hi mrc welcome to Reef Corals ;)

[leggit]

when i set up my 5x2x2 the ph was 8.1 just as lights went of and 7.8 when lights went on i over came this by puting the air intake from my skimmer out side the ph now is 8.18 when lights go on and 8.29 when lights go out

[mrc]

i bought a ph meter but i have not calibrated it yet but i will be doing it now i think my main problem is trying to move to quickly my trigon has only been set up for a few months and i was dissapointed in the size and the lighting so i have just converted my 6ft6inx26inx18in malawi tank as every thing was going well operative word was lost a fish today as well as my confidence so expect a lot of proberly silly questions thanks

[marcoz]

Hi, and welcome;) I bought a PH meter a couple of weeks ago and it's made things so much easier. Being one of the most important parameters to keep an eye on it's vital to get an accurate reading. I always had trouble using a test kit and the colours never seemed to match up on the chart so get a probe if you can! I got mine from ebay (monitors direct) and haven't looked back since:)

[Kev]

Hi Marcoz

Can I be cheeky and ask how much the monitor was? This could well be a way of overcoming my lethargy towards not doing any water tests for 7 months.

Kev:)

[SteveS]

im with kev on this one, i dont test either...tanks being running almost 3 years, weekly water changes are the key...anyway i dont need to test i know my nitrates and phosphates are through the roof, i just look at my algae meter!

steve

[liquidlogic]

i recently set up my tank and within 1 day my PH was 8.2 TMC pro reef ;)

[mrc]

hi mate got my ph meter for £10 off ebay (new)