PH and alk in the toilet

[mikee002]

I recently got a used Apex and just connected the pH probe yesterday, I have not calibrated it yet since I don’t have solution but the numbers were very low. PH has basically been around seven up to 7.2 at its peak. I tested today with test kits and got similar results. I hate how subjective reading the tests are with colors, but I believe the pH is below 7.6. The alk is 4.5.

I do not have much coral at all in the tank, just a handful of zoas and a Monti. I have also been battling a GHA problem for months.

I am going to order calibration solution for the probe and test kits, as I just realized that these tests are expired and out of date, but since the numbers pretty much match each other, I think they are probably good results.

What is going on, and what can I do for a correction? I just added another powerhead to agitate the surface.

 

[mikee002]

Ph result

 

[Hincapiej4]

For a sec I thought you were checking your toilet water. I was like the heck? That's weird...maybe he's trying to make some toilet aquarium in a transparent toilet, let's click and see. Lol

 

[homer1475]

I wouldn't do a thing till I used a test kit that wasn't expired, or a PH probe that was properly calibrated.

 

[StlSalt]

Yeah I wouldn't chase numbers, especially from test results you don't have comfort in. Do you have a LFS nearby? Whenever I get a funky number I'll head up to my LFS and ask them to do a test, just don't tell them your result so you don't influence their results. How is your coral doing?

 

[mikee002]

For a sec I thought you were checking your toilet water. I was like the heck? That's weird...maybe he's trying to make some toilet aquarium in a transparent toilet, let's click and see. Lol

It’s my new pico experiment!

 

[ThePurple12]

If those numbers are real, which I doubt, IMO the best thing to do would be water changes until you have good numbers.

I agree, taking your water to the LFS would be a good idea.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I suspect both readings may be inaccurate.

Try testing both on some new salt water.

 

[mikee002]

I suspect both readings may be inaccurate.

Try testing both on some new salt water.

I will do this today. Thank you. I’ve also ordered calibration solution and another test kit.

 

[mikee002]

I suspect both readings may be inaccurate.

Try testing both on some new salt water.

Just tested fresh mixed salt water. PH went up to 8.2 with the Red Sea kit, 7.52 on the Apex probe. Alkalinity went up to 7 with the red sea kit.

 

[Silly clownfish]

For a sec I thought you were checking your toilet water. I was like the heck? That's weird...maybe he's trying to make some toilet aquarium in a transparent toilet, let's click and see. Lol

I have thought of putting a pH probe in the toilet tank to monitor when we need to refill the house deacidifier, so I thought someone else was doing that & clicked on this thread.

Our raw well water has a pH of 5.5, so we need to dose our incoming water line with a soda ash solution. since a probe needs to stay wet, a toilet tank seems like a good place to install.