Ph 7.8

[scotty333]

Guys

I’ve just calibrated my ph hand held monitor and got a 7.8 and we’re in peak photosynthesis period so god knows what the small hours will be
I have lots of surface agitation and a refugium on reverse cycle , plus air into the skimmer is outside and the doors are always open for the dogs to come and go

What more can I do to boost ph as its low?

 

[Miami Reef]

Can you recalibrate the probe?

Let us know if the result changes.

 

[scotty333]

Can you recalibrate the probe?

Let us know if the result changes.

It’s been calibrated at 6.86 and 9.18 @ 25 c

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds like it may still not be accurate, but try this test:

https://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/
The Aeration Test

Some of the possible causes of low pH listed above require an effort to diagnose. Problems 3 and 4 are quite common, and here is a way to distinguish them. Remove a cup of tank water and measure its pH. Then aerate it for an hour with an airstone using outside air. Its pH should rise if it is unusually low for the measured alkalinity (Figure 2). Then repeat the same experiment on a new cup of water using inside air. If its pH also rises, then the aquarium’s pH will rise simply with more aeration because it is only the aquarium that contains excess carbon dioxide. If the pH does not rise in the cup (or rises very little) when aerating with indoor air, then that air likely contains excess CO2, and more aeration with that same air will not solve the low pH problem (although aeration with fresher air should). Be careful implementing this test if the outside aeration test results in a large temperature change (more than 5°C or 10°F), because such changes alone impact pH measurements.

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s been calibrated at 6.86 and 9.18 @ 25 c

Can you clarify a bit more? Most pH probes require 7 and 10 solutions.

There are a few probes that allow you to use pH solutions that are out of that range.


Are those readings what your probe measures the 7 and 10 solutions, or did you use those specific solutions to calibrate the probe?

 

[scotty333]

Sounds like it may still not be accurate, but try this test:

https://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/
The Aeration Test

Some of the possible causes of low pH listed above require an effort to diagnose. Problems 3 and 4 are quite common, and here is a way to distinguish them. Remove a cup of tank water and measure its pH. Then aerate it for an hour with an airstone using outside air. Its pH should rise if it is unusually low for the measured alkalinity (Figure 2). Then repeat the same experiment on a new cup of water using inside air. If its pH also rises, then the aquarium’s pH will rise simply with more aeration because it is only the aquarium that contains excess carbon dioxide. If the pH does not rise in the cup (or rises very little) when aerating with indoor air, then that air likely contains excess CO2, and more aeration with that same air will not solve the low pH problem (although aeration with fresher air should). Be careful implementing this test if the outside aeration test results in a large temperature change (more than 5°C or 10°F), because such changes alone impact pH measurements.

Interesting thanks
Well another thing to add is that my kh is 10.2 but I do dose 10ml of vodka per day
I don’t know if this is useful info?
I will do an aeration test though

 

[scotty333]

Can you clarify a bit more? Most pH probes require 7 and 10 solutions.

There are a few probes that allow you to use pH solutions that are out of that range.


Are those readings what your probe measures the 7 and 10 solutions, or did you use those specific solutions to calibrate the probe?

It’s just a cheap 7 in 1 which I calibrated with those 2 solutions
Maybe I need a better probe

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s just a cheap 7 in 1 which I calibrated with those 2 solutions
Maybe I need a better probe

Did the probe ask for those solutions? That’s oddly specific pH solutions.

Most probes want 7 and 10.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s just a cheap 7 in 1 which I calibrated with those 2 solutions
Maybe I need a better probe

Just to clarify, you have a buffer that says on it it is pH 9.18?

What brand? Such things exist, but they are pretty uncommon in the hobby.

 

[scotty333]

Did the probe ask for those solutions? That’s oddly specific pH solutions.

Most probes want 7 and 10.

Yes
It’s Chinese so don’t expect it’s perfect but a ballpark figure , I use it for tds aswel

 

[scotty333]

Just to clarify, you have a buffer that says on it it is pH 9.18?

What brand? Such things exist, but they are pretty uncommon in the hobby.

See the picture for brand , I chucked the other 2

 

[Reefering1]

I too don't trust that reading.

 

[scotty333]

I too don't trust that reading.

Today I’m at 8.0 since a few tweeks but feel it should be higher
I’m going to do the aeration test now

 

[scotty333]

Same result

 

[audiallroad]

Guys

I’ve just calibrated my ph hand held monitor and got a 7.8 and we’re in peak photosynthesis period so god knows what the small hours will be
I have lots of surface agitation and a refugium on reverse cycle , plus air into the skimmer is outside and the doors are always open for the dogs to come and go

What more can I do to boost ph as its low?

Hi! I also had a lower PH, in vain I directed the flow up to make bigger waves, so I led out the skimmer air inlet and lo and behold, the outside air raised the PH from 7.6 to 8.15.
It's winter and we can't ventilate as much because of a small child.
The difference is visible within a few days.