PH problems

[jeratc1025$]

Need help maintaining my PH. I used distilled white vinegar to lower it down but goes right back up the next day. It goes as high as 8.45. Please help.

 

[Spare time]

That's actually a good thing. Why would you want to decrease it? What's the error margin on your test (if you know)?


Natural ocean (before human co2 acidification) was 8.3 and is roughly 8.2 now.

 

[reefz]

What salt are you using?

 

[jeratc1025$]

That's actually a good thing. Why would you want to decrease it? What's the error margin on your test (if you know)?


Natural ocean (before human co2 acidification) was 8.3 and is roughly 8.2 now.

I just want to stabilize it. It fluctuates too much. And i feel like 8.45 is a tad bit high. I put an airstone in my sump but that doesn’t help at all.

 

[jeratc1025$]

What salt are you using?

I buy my water at the LFS. I just bought an todi system but no time to install it.

 

[Spare time]

I just want to stabilize it. It fluctuates too much. And i feel like 8.45 is a tad bit high. I put an airstone in my sump but that doesn’t help at all.

How much does it drop at night? If that is a concern, maybe consider a reverse light cycle refugium or similar. 8.45 is not going to cause problems though. You can double check with Randy on that if you want. He has a lot of things written on pH.

 

[scubaReef002]

How are you testing/monitoring your PH?

 

[Yates273]

Your ph is going to fluctuate from day to night. I wouldn’t worry about your ph as long as everything looks happy leave it. Just search Randy Holmes Farleys articles I listen to everything he says here He’s a genius when it comes to water chemistry and he says that a ph of 8.4 is nothing to worry about.

• Sep 30, 2021
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Randy Holmes-Farley​

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Best implies an opinion, and begs the question "What criteria?".

Higher pH is expected to lead to faster growth of some hard corals, given other conditions are not limiting growth.

Higher pH can also lead to more precipitation of calcium carbonate on pumps, etc.

The pH range of a typical reef tank is generally Ok from 7.8 to 8.55. Outside that range, issue become more concerning.

What is "perfect?". Depends on your goals.

I ran my tank at 8.30 to 8.55 for years and though that was fine

 

[X-37B]

My recommendation is stop chasing the number.
Is it actually 8.4? Verify with another ph unit.
My ph goes from 7.9-8.1 as most tanks will have a night/day swing.
What is yours?