PH Super High!

malx · 04/16/2018, 07:16 PM

Hey guys.

So my Carpet Anemone has been struggling a bit since I put him in his bigger tank on Friday. Water was good until I checked PH. It’s 8.6. I have no idea how it got super high. I tested this with a calibrated PH probe. Anyone experience this and what recommendations do people have to lower it? Maybe a large water change with lower PH water?

Let me know and thanks!

Joey

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malx · 04/16/2018, 09:11 PM

Ok, just did a 10g water change on the 20g and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.4 which is more bearable and already the nem looks better. I need a more permanent solution.

Cancun · 04/16/2018, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malx

Ok, just did a 10g water change on the 20g and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.4 which is more bearable and already the nem looks better. I need a more permanent solution.

Hi! Do you have good water movement at the surface? Also do you have a open top style tank or a closed lid? I have a screen top....and a EchoTech MP40 so I have plenty of water movement at the surface....this helps stabilize the PH...my PH is always 8.2. Try pointing a power head at the surface....then check your PH in the morning and at night over a few days...to compare.

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malx · 04/16/2018, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cancun

Hi! Do you have good water movement at the surface? Also do you have a open top style tank or a closed lid? I have a screen top....and a EchoTech MP40 so I have plenty of water movement at the surface....this helps stabilize the PH...my PH is always 8.2. Try pointing a power head at the surface....then check your PH in the morning and at night over a few days...to compare.

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Yes, open top. My tank sits near a window and I think the sunlight is spiking the PH. I did a W/C and also lowered the PH down to 8.3 with some Soda Water. I also have an extra Neptune PH probe and PM1, so I hooked it up to this tank. The probe isn't calibrated, but using the probe in my main display I was able to figure out that this PH probe is reading .2 lower than what the PH is, so for the next few days, I'm going to manage the PH with soda water and see how the nem does. He already looks much better.

Cancun · 04/17/2018, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malx

Yes, open top. My tank sits near a window and I think the sunlight is spiking the PH. I did a W/C and also lowered the PH down to 8.3 with some Soda Water. I also have an extra Neptune PH probe and PM1, so I hooked it up to this tank. The probe isn't calibrated, but using the probe in my main display I was able to figure out that this PH probe is reading .2 lower than what the PH is, so for the next few days, I'm going to manage the PH with soda water and see how the nem does. He already looks much better.

Oh that is great! I am glad he is looking better! Sounds like you are on the right track!

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malx · 04/17/2018, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cancun

Oh that is great! I am glad he is looking better! Sounds like you are on the right track!

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Thanks. It was a night and day change, but just a hunch I checked the PH and bam, found out that my API test kit was WAY off. It was reading 8. I don't trust those S**T test kits, but I just wanted it as a guideline. 0.6 difference is literally an unmanageable margin of error.

Rover88 · 04/17/2018, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malx

Yes, open top. My tank sits near a window and I think the sunlight is spiking the PH. I did a W/C and also lowered the PH down to 8.3 with some Soda Water. I also have an extra Neptune PH probe and PM1, so I hooked it up to this tank. The probe isn't calibrated, but using the probe in my main display I was able to figure out that this PH probe is reading .2 lower than what the PH is, so for the next few days, I'm going to manage the PH with soda water and see how the nem does. He already looks much better.

I feel like you should try not to chase the pH with additives and the like. Find the source of what might be causing it (like as someone suggested, the surface not having enough movement). Chasing the pH with additives will be difficult for you to consistently keep up over time. Its better if its not too far out of range to let it 'settle' somewhere near where it should be with relatively natural means.

mcgyvr · 04/17/2018, 06:18 AM

If you haven't already seen this..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

I too would suggest you look at how you are aerating the water currently and try to increase that as the first step..

malx · 04/17/2018, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

If you haven't already seen this..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

I too would suggest you look at how you are aerating the water currently and try to increase that as the first step..

Yep I read that. The PH right now is good, if it spikes again today, I'm going to toss in an airstone to see if that makes a difference. I do have a lot of surface movement so not sure what's up. I don't have a skimmer on this tank but I ran a similar setup with a 10 gallon for 18 months with the same animals no PH issues.

Anemone already looks worlds better this morning. PH is 8

malx · 04/17/2018, 05:59 PM

I'm considering dosing CO2 with a regulator and APEX controller here. PH is back up to 8.5 right now and I'm stuck at work. Will be home in 1/2 hour to put some soda water in to lower it down to 8.4 until it drops naturally.

AlSimmons · 04/17/2018, 06:04 PM

If I'm not mistaken I think vinegar can be used to lower pH. The link below might help.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

malx · 04/17/2018, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

If I'm not mistaken I think vinegar can be used to lower pH. The link below might help.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

yeah it can, but I'm dosing ZEOvit so I don't want to dose Vinegar with that. Soda water lowers PH fine as it contains CO2, but the problem is I'm not around to dose Soda Water when it's at it's peak, which is now.

malx · 04/17/2018, 07:03 PM

Just dosed some soda water, PH now 8.3 instead of 8.5. Nem not looking good today. If he opens up a bit at night I'm going to see if he will take food. Maybe he's weak.

AlSimmons · 04/17/2018, 07:04 PM

What's the ZEOvit for? Is there anything else in the 20 gallon tank besides the anemone?

malx · 04/17/2018, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

What's the ZEOvit for? Is there anything else in the 20 gallon tank besides the anemone?

Two clownfish and a clean up crew right now. It's just what I've been successful with the nem before. I have had him living in a 10 gallon for 18 months thriving.

04/16/2018, 07:16 PM	#1
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	PH Super High! Hey guys. So my Carpet Anemone has been struggling a bit since I put him in his bigger tank on Friday. Water was good until I checked PH. It’s 8.6. I have no idea how it got super high. I tested this with a calibrated PH probe. Anyone experience this and what recommendations do people have to lower it? Maybe a large water change with lower PH water? Let me know and thanks! Joey Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/17/2018, 06:18 AM	#8
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If you haven't already seen this.. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/ I too would suggest you look at how you are aerating the water currently and try to increase that as the first step.. __________________ Who me?

04/16/2018, 09:11 PM	#2
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	Ok, just did a 10g water change on the 20g and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.4 which is more bearable and already the nem looks better. I need a more permanent solution.

04/17/2018, 05:59 PM	#10
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	I'm considering dosing CO2 with a regulator and APEX controller here. PH is back up to 8.5 right now and I'm stuck at work. Will be home in 1/2 hour to put some soda water in to lower it down to 8.4 until it drops naturally.

04/17/2018, 06:04 PM	#11
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	If I'm not mistaken I think vinegar can be used to lower pH. The link below might help. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

04/17/2018, 07:03 PM	#13
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	Just dosed some soda water, PH now 8.3 instead of 8.5. Nem not looking good today. If he opens up a bit at night I'm going to see if he will take food. Maybe he's weak.

04/17/2018, 07:04 PM	#14
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	What's the ZEOvit for? Is there anything else in the 20 gallon tank besides the anemone?