PH spike question

abugs1985 · 09/11/2006, 06:12 PM

The PH level in my tank today raised from it's normal 8.25 during the day to 8.53. One of my percs now is breathing very heavily and is hidding out in the back right corner of my tank. I've had my tank for about 3 years now with no problems what so ever in the last year and a half or so. What would cause such a dramatic spike in a PH level like that and cause my beloved 2 1/2 year old perc to start acting out of the norm? Is it at all related? All water params are perfect...skimmer is pulling out good colored stuff, UV hooked up and working fine. All corals look fine and my other fish look great....any ideas?

JGoslee · 09/11/2006, 07:06 PM

I had a similar problem recently. My high ph was caused by having my windows closed all summer and then suddenly opening them. Heres the link
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=high+ph+co2

abugs1985 · 09/12/2006, 10:42 AM

hey thanks for that link....lots of good info in there. I recalibrated my pinpoint Ph meter and it's reading the same. We did recently open the windows to the house after turning off the central air but my tank is located in the basement where we don't open any windows. We'll see what happens over the next few days...thanks!

MCary · 09/12/2006, 11:36 AM

That pH should not affect your fish. My tank swings from 8.05 at night to 8.3 during the day. The lowest point being just before the lights come one and the highest just before the lights go off. Seawater is 8.4. Doesn't sound like you have a problem. If your not measuring continuously be sure that you take your measurements at the same time everyday.

abugs1985 · 09/12/2006, 12:46 PM

my perc is doing fine today...he was acting so out of the ordinary last night for some reason. I associated the high pH with how he was acting as my pH level has never risen so high. I do have a pH monito hooked up all the time and average is 8.25 before the lights go off and i've seen it around 8.16 at night....thanks for the posts though, good to know that pH wont affect my fish if it ever happens again.

JGoslee · 09/12/2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by abugs1985
hey thanks for that link....lots of good info in there. I recalibrated my pinpoint Ph meter and it's reading the same. We did recently open the windows to the house after turning off the central air but my tank is located in the basement where we don't open any windows. We'll see what happens over the next few days...thanks!

My tank is also located in the basement with very limited air movement. When I turn the central air back on, within 24 hours my ph is back down to 8.2

09/11/2006, 06:12 PM	#1
abugs1985 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 193	PH spike question The PH level in my tank today raised from it's normal 8.25 during the day to 8.53. One of my percs now is breathing very heavily and is hidding out in the back right corner of my tank. I've had my tank for about 3 years now with no problems what so ever in the last year and a half or so. What would cause such a dramatic spike in a PH level like that and cause my beloved 2 1/2 year old perc to start acting out of the norm? Is it at all related? All water params are perfect...skimmer is pulling out good colored stuff, UV hooked up and working fine. All corals look fine and my other fish look great....any ideas?

09/11/2006, 07:06 PM	#2
JGoslee Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,216	I had a similar problem recently. My high ph was caused by having my windows closed all summer and then suddenly opening them. Heres the link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=high+ph+co2 __________________ Click on my red house to see my Zoanthid dominated tank.

09/12/2006, 10:42 AM	#3
abugs1985 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 193	hey thanks for that link....lots of good info in there. I recalibrated my pinpoint Ph meter and it's reading the same. We did recently open the windows to the house after turning off the central air but my tank is located in the basement where we don't open any windows. We'll see what happens over the next few days...thanks!

09/12/2006, 11:36 AM	#4
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	That pH should not affect your fish. My tank swings from 8.05 at night to 8.3 during the day. The lowest point being just before the lights come one and the highest just before the lights go off. Seawater is 8.4. Doesn't sound like you have a problem. If your not measuring continuously be sure that you take your measurements at the same time everyday.

09/12/2006, 12:46 PM	#5
abugs1985 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 193	my perc is doing fine today...he was acting so out of the ordinary last night for some reason. I associated the high pH with how he was acting as my pH level has never risen so high. I do have a pH monito hooked up all the time and average is 8.25 before the lights go off and i've seen it around 8.16 at night....thanks for the posts though, good to know that pH wont affect my fish if it ever happens again.