pH above 8.6- Hannah checker is blinking

[SOGavity]

My Hannah Checker is blinking 8.6 which means it's higher than that. I've tried looking it up but most sites talk about RAISING pH and not lowering. I'm not sure I'm too concerned and it's been high for a while now, about a month, but it doesn't mean I know why this is happening. The only thing I've changed is dosing All For Reef at 20ml a day, and that's it. I don't dose anything else. I do not have chemical media in my sump. I run my protein skimmer 24/7. I run my refugium on an opposite cycle to my display as a way to keep pH consistent even through the night. I have a ton of surface agitation. I use Instant Ocean Reef salt. I do a 15 gallon Water change weekly on my 120 gallon system (including sump). I use RO/DI water that I make at home.

Salinity 1.025
Alk 8.8 dKH
2.4 Nitrates
0.03 Phospates
420 Calcium
1340 Magnesium

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s unlikely to be accurate, but if it is for some fluke reason, simple aeration with any air will lower it. Try aerating a cup of water as a test.

 

[thedon986]

My ph reaches that, sometimes 8.7 and I haven’t noticed any ill effects. Maybe some extra precipitation on my heater? I use Randy’s sodium hydroxide recipe and does about 150ml a day in 90ish gallons.

 

[SOGavity]

It’s unlikely to be accurate, but if it is for some fluke reason, simple aeration with any air will lower it. Try aerating a cup of water as a test.

It's the same Hannah Checker I've used since it was reading 8.2. I have yet to have to replace the fluid as well, considering I don't check pH that often.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It's the same Hannah Checker I've used since it was reading 8.2. I have yet to have to replace the fluid as well, considering I don't check pH that often.

Ok, but that does not mean it is accurate. Without very high pH additives, pH does not get that high unless there is a lot of photosynthesis and poor circulation/aeration. pH too high is just not a concern in reef tanks.

Try aerating the water more, or get new Hanna reagents, which can go bad.

 

[ReeferCub]

I know this is a bit older thread. But, my question is similar to what is being asked here. Today at work, my Apex controller suddenly sent me an alarm saying my pH is too high (pH 8.41). I am always pH low person. I take active steps to keep pH above 8. I go all the way. Add Kalk at night. Run a CO2 scrubber. The only difference, is I kept the fish tank window slightly open since yesterday.
My tank is new and has no corals in it as of yet. Its a relatively new setup (4-5 months old). Will do a seprate tank thread on that. Back to the point...is pH 8.41 really too high? Why is Apex sending me an alarm on this, even though I have not set an active alarm for pH? I thought high pH is good for corals.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I know this is a bit older thread. But, my question is similar to what is being asked here. Today at work, my Apex controller suddenly sent me an alarm saying my pH is too high (pH 8.41). I am always pH low person. I take active steps to keep pH above 8. I go all the way. Add Kalk at night. Run a CO2 scrubber. The only difference, is I kept the fish tank window slightly open since yesterday.
My tank is new and has no corals in it as of yet. Its a relatively new setup (4-5 months old). Will do a seprate tank thread on that. Back to the point...is pH 8.41 really too high? Why is Apex sending me an alarm on this, even though I have not set an active alarm for pH? I thought high pH is good for corals.

Hey! This is a sour subject for me because I am replacing my ph pobes
Like every 6 months. I
Ph is imortant to me and I calibrate my probes
Every 3 months. With that said I have tried the highest lab grade probes down to the cheapest 30$ probes and I found it doesn’t matter they all drift in the 3-6 month range. And before anyone asks yes I clean them and no it doesn’t make a difference .

 

[ReeferCub]

My alk is 8.8 dKh BTW. My probe calibration is fine. I just check the tank pH using another high quality pH meter and it read 8.39. No problem with my neptune probe which is reading 8.42 at this moment. That small difference is within acceptable margin of error.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know this is a bit older thread. But, my question is similar to what is being asked here. Today at work, my Apex controller suddenly sent me an alarm saying my pH is too high (pH 8.41). I am always pH low person. I take active steps to keep pH above 8. I go all the way. Add Kalk at night. Run a CO2 scrubber. The only difference, is I kept the fish tank window slightly open since yesterday.
My tank is new and has no corals in it as of yet. Its a relatively new setup (4-5 months old). Will do a seprate tank thread on that. Back to the point...is pH 8.41 really too high? Why is Apex sending me an alarm on this, even though I have not set an active alarm for pH? I thought high pH is good for corals.

pH 8.41 is perfectly fine, if accurate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey! This is a sour subject for me because I am replacing my ph pobes
Like every 6 months. I
Ph is imortant to me and I calibrate my probes
Every 3 months. With that said I have tried the highest lab grade probes down to the cheapest 30$ probes and I found it doesn’t matter they all drift in the 3-6 month range. And before anyone asks yes I clean them and no it doesn’t make a difference .

Recalibration seems a better option than replacing probes if drift over months is the issue.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Hey! This is a sour subject for me because I am replacing my ph pobes
Like every 6 months. I
Ph is imortant to me and I calibrate my probes
Every 3 months. With that said I have tried the highest lab grade probes down to the cheapest 30$ probes and I found it doesn’t matter they all drift in the 3-6 month range. And before anyone asks yes I clean them and no it doesn’t make a difference .

Recalibration seems a better option than replacing probes if drift over months is the issue.

I replace them because the recalibrations fail. I calibrate and they don’t hold. I have a hydros and when calibrating the probes it will give a percentage. If it’s not within range the probe is toast:(

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I replace them because the recalibrations fail. I calibrate and they don’t hold. I have a hydros and when calibrating the probes it will give a percentage. If it’s not within range the probe is toast:(

Ok. Seems odd. I’ve successfully used some of the same probes for years. :)

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I replace them because the recalibrations fail. I calibrate and they don’t hold. I have a hydros and when calibrating the probes it will give a percentage. If it’s not within range the probe is toast:(

Ok. Seems odd. I’ve successfully used some of the same probes for years. :)

I believe it’s because I have light in my sump. I try to keep the probes out of the light, but I’m sure that’s what the issue is for me

 

[backbayreef]

Curious why the same brand of pH probes drift over time? That is — my tank’s pH probe would drift higher in 6mos, creating a placebo effect; but my carx ph hasn’t drifted. It’s been stable for months / years.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I believe it’s because I have light in my sump. I try to keep the probes out of the light, but I’m sure that’s what the issue is for me

Yes, algae growing on pH and ORP probes will mess with readings.

 

[BonnieB]

I know I briefly had a ph issue at the beginning and it was an aeration issue. I didn’t have a powerhead at the time so added one and the ph went down to normal.

 

[Malcontent]

Hey! This is a sour subject for me because I am replacing my ph pobes
Like every 6 months. I
Ph is imortant to me and I calibrate my probes
Every 3 months. With that said I have tried the highest lab grade probes down to the cheapest 30$ probes and I found it doesn’t matter they all drift in the 3-6 month range. And before anyone asks yes I clean them and no it doesn’t make a difference .

There are probes designed for continuous use that might work better. Also, have you tried refillable probes?