HELP!!! Ph is crazy high cant get it down

Phatty42081 · 05/15/2008, 06:40 PM

my ph is at like 9 and change, i cant seem to get it down my calcium is also low, alk is normal is this the cause? also i have a refuge lighs are on 24/7 but have never had a problem before. please somebody give me some direction. i have been doing this for like 5 years now have never had this problem

Tang Salad · 05/15/2008, 06:50 PM

The big question is: Why is it at 9?

Did you dose anything recently?

bkoppes · 05/15/2008, 06:55 PM

what are you using to test it? If you have a probe maybe it has gone bad. I would recheck with some other means.

sjames · 05/15/2008, 07:01 PM

yes, its very likly that your test is bad. So dont do anything rash trying to change your pH.

are you using any additives that are know to affect pH? like lime water or baked baking soda?

CoralBeautyII · 05/15/2008, 07:18 PM

Maybe try a new test kit?
My ph is 8.6

ggk1988 · 05/15/2008, 07:21 PM

I agree that you should verify your pH with some other test kits.

Phatty42081 · 05/15/2008, 07:30 PM

my ph was verifyed by one of he guys at the lfs, no probe. i have been dosing with b-ionic 2 part for cacium and alk because they were both extremly low alk was 1 and calcium was 300 but ph was still high then. now my alk is at 3 and calcium is is like 365 i havent dosed in about a week. anysuggestions with this info

Tang Salad · 05/15/2008, 07:37 PM

How big a tank?

Sounds like a slow 50% waterchange might be in order...

sjames · 05/15/2008, 07:39 PM

If you have any friends with a electronic pH probe, id look for a third opinion.

It would be very very difficult for your pH to be that high without you having added anything.

You could try increasing aeration to try and get some more co2 into your tank.

High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

Playa-1 · 05/15/2008, 07:44 PM

I second the water change if you've already had the PH reading double checked by somebody else. Have you been keeping up on the regular water changes?

vanmo92 · 05/15/2008, 08:03 PM

I would put in a bit of vinegar, but not very much at all, then measure it again, and repeat the process till it is down to a tolerable level.

Phatty42081 · 05/15/2008, 08:13 PM

i do water changes usualy about every 2 weeks 4.5 gals, tank is 38 gals.i use instant ocean salt and usualy test the ph before i put it in. could my co2 be low because my fuge is going 24/7 should i start turning the light off during the day and do 3, 5 gal water changes

Longchamp · 05/15/2008, 08:47 PM

i agree with adding vinegar, do maybe 10%/day in the mean time. Make sure the test is accurate.

Tang Salad · 05/15/2008, 08:50 PM

The guy has 5 years exp. in the hobby; maybe we could all assume he knows about test kits and probes...

And I would not add vinegar if you could just do a big WC instead.

05/15/2008, 06:40 PM	#1
Phatty42081 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 116	HELP!!! Ph is crazy high cant get it down my ph is at like 9 and change, i cant seem to get it down my calcium is also low, alk is normal is this the cause? also i have a refuge lighs are on 24/7 but have never had a problem before. please somebody give me some direction. i have been doing this for like 5 years now have never had this problem

05/15/2008, 06:50 PM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	The big question is: Why is it at 9? Did you dose anything recently? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

05/15/2008, 07:18 PM	#5
CoralBeautyII Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 586	Maybe try a new test kit? My ph is 8.6 __________________ 70 Gallon Cube. 90+ lbs Fiji Live Rock. 8x HO T5's, MP10. Inhabitants~Soft Corals, LPS, few SPS

05/15/2008, 07:37 PM	#8
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	How big a tank? Sounds like a slow 50% waterchange might be in order... __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

05/15/2008, 08:03 PM	#11
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	I would put in a bit of vinegar, but not very much at all, then measure it again, and repeat the process till it is down to a tolerable level. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

05/15/2008, 06:55 PM	#3
bkoppes Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 62	what are you using to test it? If you have a probe maybe it has gone bad. I would recheck with some other means.

05/15/2008, 07:01 PM	#4
sjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 675	yes, its very likly that your test is bad. So dont do anything rash trying to change your pH. are you using any additives that are know to affect pH? like lime water or baked baking soda?

05/15/2008, 07:21 PM	#6
ggk1988 Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NW suburbs Chicago, IL Posts: 668	I agree that you should verify your pH with some other test kits.

05/15/2008, 07:30 PM	#7
Phatty42081 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 116	my ph was verifyed by one of he guys at the lfs, no probe. i have been dosing with b-ionic 2 part for cacium and alk because they were both extremly low alk was 1 and calcium was 300 but ph was still high then. now my alk is at 3 and calcium is is like 365 i havent dosed in about a week. anysuggestions with this info

05/15/2008, 07:39 PM	#9
sjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 675	If you have any friends with a electronic pH probe, id look for a third opinion. It would be very very difficult for your pH to be that high without you having added anything. You could try increasing aeration to try and get some more co2 into your tank. High pH: Causes and Cures http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

05/15/2008, 07:44 PM	#10
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I second the water change if you've already had the PH reading double checked by somebody else. Have you been keeping up on the regular water changes?

05/15/2008, 08:13 PM	#12
Phatty42081 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 116	i do water changes usualy about every 2 weeks 4.5 gals, tank is 38 gals.i use instant ocean salt and usualy test the ph before i put it in. could my co2 be low because my fuge is going 24/7 should i start turning the light off during the day and do 3, 5 gal water changes

05/15/2008, 08:47 PM	#13
Longchamp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: baltimore Posts: 341	i agree with adding vinegar, do maybe 10%/day in the mean time. Make sure the test is accurate.

05/15/2008, 08:50 PM	#14
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	The guy has 5 years exp. in the hobby; maybe we could all assume he knows about test kits and probes... And I would not add vinegar if you could just do a big WC instead. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS