pH 6.5

[seachel71]

My tank looks great. Happy corals, happy fish but my parameters are way off. Originally using bad salt (10+ years old). My last water change(close to 50%) was with new salt Red Sea Coral Pro.


13.5 gallon Fluval with skimmer, filter floss, carbon, biomedia and uv light all in chambers. Good amount of gunk in skimmer.

pH 6.5
Ammo .6
NO2 .3
No3 10
Ca 340
PO4 .5
KH 11.5
Salt 1.026
Temp 79.4

Questions

Do I do something to correct pH and if so, won't that raise alkalinity?

Still continue to dose?
(Fluval Ca, Mg Strontium liquid)

 

[aquaman3680]

At that pH your tank is acidic. How old are your test kits and what brand are they? I'm thinking you're getting a bad reading. I'm not sure it's possible for everything in the tank to be alive at that pH. Do you have somewhere you can take it for a second test like the LFS?

 

[arking_mark]

This is a measurement error...

 

[seachel71]

I hope you are right. Using a fluval test kit that I bought less than 6 weeks ago but maybe it was old already. I tested twice today and got the same pH.

 

[Garf]

I hope you are right. Using a fluval test kit that I bought less than 6 weeks ago but maybe it was old already. I tested twice today and got the same pH.

A pH that low would be dissolving your rock, subsequently increasing pH, I don’t think it’s possible.

 

[seachel71]

Ok I'll order a new test kit. If the pH liquid is bad should I assume the whole test kit is bad and replace all of it or just pH?
TIA

 

[BrianAnthony]

I agree with everyone above. Test kit issue or procedure.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My tank looks great. Happy corals, happy fish but my parameters are way off. Originally using bad salt (10+ years old). My last water change(close to 50%) was with new salt Red Sea Coral Pro.


13.5 gallon Fluval with skimmer, filter floss, carbon, biomedia and uv light all in chambers. Good amount of gunk in skimmer.

pH 6.5
Ammo .6
NO2 .3
No3 10
Ca 340
PO4 .5
KH 11.5
Salt 1.026
Temp 79.4

Questions

Do I do something to correct pH and if so, won't that raise alkalinity?

Still continue to dose?
(Fluval Ca, Mg Strontium liquid)

Calibrate your probe
Also what test kit are you using ?

This appears to be a false reading/

 

[BrianAnthony]

Calibrate your probe
Also what test kit are you using ?

This appears to be a false reading/

She/he is using a liquid test kit...

 

[vetteguy53081]

She/he is using a liquid test kit...

I know- want to see what brand as I suspect API - Known for false readings

 

[seachel71]

Using Fluval

 

[BrianAnthony]

She/he is using a liquid test kit...

A fluval test kit.

 

[arking_mark]

I took my temperature this morning and it's 120. I feel fine otherwise. Emergency!

A 6.5ph doesn't pass the smell test.

It puts you air CO2 level around the tank at 32000. Both you and you tank would be dead.

 

[BrianAnthony]

You know... I have a heck of a time taking accurate pH readings. pH monitors, pen testers and liquid kits. Do I really have to spend $50+ on something reliable?? Don't mean to hijack...

 

[Lyss]

I took my temperature this morning and it's 120. I feel fine otherwise. Emergency!

A 6.5ph doesn't pass the smell test.

It puts you air CO2 level around the tank at 32000. Both you and you tank would be dead.

Just chiming in here to say that there are plenty of fish keepers who keep Amazon basin FW tanks at PH 6.5. It doesn’t mean the CO2 in the room is crazy high and everyone/thing in the room would be dead.

I agree on the false reading tho.

 

[arking_mark]

You know... I have a heck of a time taking accurate pH readings. pH monitors, pen testers and liquid kits. Do I really have to spend $50+ on something reliable?? Don't mean to hijack...

Basic rule of thumb

Just chiming in here to say that there are plenty of fish keepers who keep Amazon basin FW tanks at PH 6.5. It doesn’t mean the CO2 in the room is crazy high and everyone/thing in the room would be dead.

I agree on the false reading tho.

This is saltwater...different chemistry and ways of maintaining stability.

 

[Lyss]

Basic rule of thumb

This is saltwater...different chemistry and ways of maintaining stability.

Yes, I know. But a ph of 6.5 in a fish tank doesn’t = high CO2 you and everything in the room is dead.

I agreed w/the false reading b/c a ph that low in a SW tank would kill inhabitants of the tank.

 

[arking_mark]

Yes, I know. But a ph of 6.5 in a fish tank doesn’t = high CO2 you and everything in the room is dead.

I agreed w/the false reading b/c a ph that low in a SW tank would kill inhabitants of the tank.

It does with saltwater aquariums.

 

[arking_mark]

It does with saltwater aquariums.

There is a mathematical model for saltwater chemistry...

If the tank is perfectly aerated, then the CO2 is in equilibrium with air, and we can calculate the air CO2. If not perfectly aerated the numbers will be slightly different.

 

[Lyss]

It does with saltwater aquariums.

Are you being serious?

The attached is from an article by Randy. High CO2 in the home air is just one possible cause of low Ph, not an absolute.