High alk, Low ph

Tom S.

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 30, 2022
Messages
58
Reaction score
90
Location
Albany
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey everyone!

I'm having trouble keeping PH up. During the day I'm seeing 7.8. Right now it's sitting at 7.4. I have been trying to correct with soda ash 20ml a day in my 65 gallon tank. My alk is at 11.1. Am I going about this wrong? Any help would be appreciated!!

Thank you!
Tom

Screenshot_20221003-205327_APEX Fusion.jpg
 
OP
OP
T

Tom S.

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 30, 2022
Messages
58
Reaction score
90
Location
Albany
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey Randy!

I'm measuring through the APEX probe. I went through the calibration process with the packets it came with. The unit is brand new.

Thanks
Tom
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
66,555
Reaction score
62,861
Location
Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey Randy!

I'm measuring through the APEX probe. I went through the calibration process with the packets it came with. The unit is brand new.

Thanks
Tom

I'm guessing it's inaccurate. At pH 7.4 the rock and sand would be slowly dissolving, raising alk and pH.

Perhaps APEX users can chime in with their experiences, but I'd see if it can correctly read the calibration fluids now.
 

natesreef_

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I for the longest time struggled with the same issue. Dosed all sorts of buffers, fought with fresh air and in take on the skimmer (this does help a little), and I could never get above 8.1 according to my apex. Then I ran into a method by Chris meckley of aci aquaculture on YouTube (old school method used for years) topping off entirely with kalkwasser and I never fall below 8.15. Corals grow MUCH faster since & I save lots of $ on buffers for my 180 gallon mixed reef. The only downside was my alk went sky high for about 2 months before balancing back out around 9. I saw absolutely no adverse affects on my corals from this, and it went as high as 12.5 at one point but did have to start dosing minor amounts of nutrients to keep from bottoming out. Hope this helps.
 

Attachments

  • 9CD10C21-3CD1-445E-B29F-DB8E4CE48BFE.png
    9CD10C21-3CD1-445E-B29F-DB8E4CE48BFE.png
    216.1 KB · Views: 12
  • 5A0C151B-E959-4ADB-AC37-C65C3EBD3A36.jpeg
    5A0C151B-E959-4ADB-AC37-C65C3EBD3A36.jpeg
    166.4 KB · Views: 15
  • BA9CE190-8DF5-4472-ADBA-E9353BA2842B.png
    BA9CE190-8DF5-4472-ADBA-E9353BA2842B.png
    875.3 KB · Views: 12
  • 9A1C10A4-CFAD-4D2E-8428-A47BECE111BF.png
    9A1C10A4-CFAD-4D2E-8428-A47BECE111BF.png
    1.1 MB · Views: 16
  • D09EA1AA-FC8A-42E7-96A0-C6328727ADA7.png
    D09EA1AA-FC8A-42E7-96A0-C6328727ADA7.png
    1,012.9 KB · Views: 19
  • 16F85477-804C-4ED8-B341-65CDDA674EF0.png
    16F85477-804C-4ED8-B341-65CDDA674EF0.png
    832.7 KB · Views: 12
  • 842C2D80-3F78-46B6-90D2-2E8C3F709012.png
    842C2D80-3F78-46B6-90D2-2E8C3F709012.png
    709.1 KB · Views: 15

moz71

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 25, 2018
Messages
1,354
Reaction score
1,293
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I always had problems with my apex probes. So I do find it hard to believe you ph of 7.4 at that high alk. I suspect the probe accuracy. I had to get another ph tester just for my sanity and it was off. You could very well be low but not that low
 

radfly

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2022
Messages
208
Reaction score
147
Location
Charleston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Took 4 weeks and a software update on Apex to get my probe reading correctly. Like you, mine was going as low as 7.3

Get new 7 and 10 calibration references and do a manual calibration once the probe has been in the system for awhile.
 
OP
OP
T

Tom S.

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 30, 2022
Messages
58
Reaction score
90
Location
Albany
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all thanks for the advice! I had a red sea PH test kit and there's about a .3 difference in the probe and the test kit. I ordered the calibration packets once they come in I'm going to check them against my probe and probably recalibrate. I found my air exchanger in the basement was off. So I turned that on and have been leaving the cabinet doors open. Ph has been sitting between 8.1 and 8.2 ( after I add the .3). I think I'm in good shape! Thanks again!!
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
66,555
Reaction score
62,861
Location
Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all thanks for the advice! I had a red sea PH test kit and there's about a .3 difference in the probe and the test kit. I ordered the calibration packets once they come in I'm going to check them against my probe and probably recalibrate. I found my air exchanger in the basement was off. So I turned that on and have been leaving the cabinet doors open. Ph has been sitting between 8.1 and 8.2 ( after I add the .3). I think I'm in good shape! Thanks again!!

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing. :)
 
Back
Top