pH as a marker of tank health

[Futuretotm]

Can pH be an early indicator of something is wrong ie nutrients too low (on a well established tank, with same number of people in the home).

Mine climbs daily due to photosynthesis. However if something is awry then surely it won't climb as much?
or am I reading too much in to the daily swing.

 

[blaxsun]

The best advice I read was to “not worry and stop chasing pH”. My pH swings between a low of 7.95 at night and around a high of 8.15 during the day, so looking at your numbers I’m fairly envious!

 

[Righteous]

CO2 will be the largest driver of your pH. Often you’ll notice differences based on things like how many people are in the room, or if you open windows etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I suppose that if you have carefully tracked pH and then changed nothing, including windows being open/closed, people in the home, cooking with gas, etc, then a sudden change in pH can be an indicator that something changed, for better or worse.

 

[fachatga]

You’re looking at spikes between 8.23 and 8.28. Based on the margin of error on the probe you’re not seeing any change at all right now.

 

[taricha]

You’re looking at spikes between 8.23 and 8.28. Based on the margin of error on the probe you’re not seeing any change at all right now.

and lows of only 8.17! That pH is held really really steady.

 

[Dolphins18]

Dont look into it too much. Heres mine.

Had a house full sunday night, as you can see in the PH result the following the day!

 

[arking_mark]

I personally think pH is just another tool in reefing hobby. It mostly indicates CO2 levels in the tank. If your tank pH goes up during the day...good photosynthesis.

However, if you can control your pH I think you can drive strong calcification and stuff like coralline algae can help outcompete some of the nuisance stuff.