Outdoor/ indoor pH test results.

[exnisstech]

Cross post but should be here. When I posted that my tank was doing well at the pH levels 7.6 - 7.8 Randy suggested I do the outdoor aeration test to verify my readings are accurate.

Quote because I suck at typing.

Milwaukee mc120 and Hanna show tank pH 7.6 -7.8 peak. I did the outdoor test and pH of tank water that was 7.7 after 1 hour outside being aerated pH went up to 8.1. the same test indoors had no change in pH at all. So that would mean my tank readings at 7.6 - 7.8 are most likely accurate and the cause is from the inside air high in CO2 correct?

 

[rishma]

Cross post but should be here. When I posted that my tank was doing well at the pH levels 7.6 - 7.8 Randy suggested I do the outdoor aeration test to verify my readings are accurate.

Quote because I suck at typing.

I don’t know if you can claim accuracy of indoor pH based on the test, but you can say that indoor CO2 is suppressing your pH.

I would expect your outdoor pH to be close to this chart.

 

[rtparty]

Your probe could be inaccurate but ambient CO2 is absolutely suppressing the pH in the tank.

I’d expect outdoors you would see it closer to 8.3 or 8.4. So the probe may be reading low by .2 to .3. Meaning your actual pH is 7.8 to 8.0 and my own belief is that is likely true. I’ve seen very few, if any, systems actually run at a pH of 7.6

 

[Uncle99]

I gave up on PH a decade ago when I determined that all the testing I was doing could not be relied upon.

While I do employ those things like a lit fuge and outside air into skimmer, scrubber, thats it.

Became a big game of chase the number, and I played only so long.

 

[rtparty]

I gave up on PH a decade ago when I determined that all the testing I was doing could not be relied upon.

While I do employ those things like a lit fuge and outside air into skimmer, scrubber, thats it.

Became a big game of chase the number, and I played only so long.

This is something I have grappled with for some time. My own opinion is that pH is one of the most important parameters for our systems. It’s also one that you can really only do so much before you’re just chasing your own tail to no end.

Then you start finding out that any credible lab calibrates their probes every time they use it. How long do our probes hold accurate readings? If one does determine the may have low pH despite all their efforts, what’s the next step? Nothing IMO. Just do our best and let the tank handle it.

 

[exnisstech]

I don’t know if you can claim accuracy of indoor pH based on the test, but you can say that indoor CO2 is suppressing your pH.

I would expect your outdoor pH to be close to this chart.

Your probe could be inaccurate but ambient CO2 is absolutely suppressing the pH in the tank.

I’d expect outdoors you would see it closer to 8.3 or 8.4. So the probe may be reading low by .2 to .3. Meaning your actual pH is 7.8 to 8.0 and my own belief is that is likely true. I’ve seen very few, if any, systems actually run at a pH of 7.6

I gave up on PH a decade ago when I determined that all the testing I was doing could not be relied upon.

While I do employ those things like a lit fuge and outside air into skimmer, scrubber, thats it.

Became a big game of chase the number, and I played only so long.

Thanks all. I'm going back to not worrying about pH. I've spent to much time reading about it and getting drawn in. I only started monitoring out if curiosity.

 

[Uncle99]

Thanks all. I'm going back to not worrying about pH. I've spent to much time reading about it and getting drawn in. I only started monitoring out if curiosity.

Did the same, right down the rabbit hole.
In last 10 years, never tested once, never had any issue.
This should apply in 99% of normal reef settings….ie house or office…

 

[rishma]

I love pH because I conquered it! Or maybe my probe became inaccurate at just the right time :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The thing is, some people do have their pH excessively low, typically from extremely high indoor CO2. I don’t think it is desirable for those folks to ignore it.

The reason it came up was exnisstec indicating his tank was good at pH 7.6. I am not claiming it cannot be, but if it is not really that low, then it might mislead someone whose tank really was 7.6 to ignore it and not do anything to fix it. That’s why I suggested the aeration test.

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[exnisstech]

The thing is, some people do have their pH excessively low, typically from extremely high indoor CO2. I don’t think it is desirable for those folks to ignore it.

The reason it came up was exnisstec indicating his tank was good at pH 7.6. I am not claiming it cannot be, but if it is not really that low, then it might mislead someone whose tank really was 7.6 to ignore it and not do anything to fix it. That’s why I suggested the aeration test.

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I appreciate you for suggesting it. The last thing I want to do is spread misinformation. There's enough of that already being done without me adding to it.