Ph spikes

Thatreefguy88 · Dec 2, 2022

I have a 29 gallon LPS (hammer, duncan) softy (zoa, leathers, recordias) tank that is about 7 years old. With ALOT of trail and error, the tank has become healthy and was showing great improvements. A few days ago, I was testing as I do every week, and found that the Ph was high, 8.6+. I did a 4 water change and waited 30 mins and tested Ph again, same reading. Everything else tested well. Salinity 1.025, alkalinity 9.5, calcium 496, magnesium 1370, phos .07 and nitrate 8.4 all tested with Hanna Colorimeters, other then magnesium, which was tested with a Salifert test kit. I've considered the possibility that the test kit is faulty. I'm still learning a lot about the chemistry of the hobby, so I would like to get some opinions, and suggestions on how to bring the Ph down if it is indeed high. Thank you.

Ron Reefman · Dec 2, 2022

I'd try to double check the pH with somebody else's test kit (a friend or an LFS). I wouldn't go doing anything crazy with the tank until you are sure about the level.

Garf · Dec 2, 2022

Thatreefguy88 said:
I have a 29 gallon LPS (hammer, duncan) softy (zoa, leathers, recordias) tank that is about 7 years old. With ALOT of trail and error, the tank has become healthy and was showing great improvements. A few days ago, I was testing as I do every week, and found that the Ph was high, 8.6+. I did a 4 water change and waited 30 mins and tested Ph again, same reading. Everything else tested well. Salinity 1.025, alkalinity 9.5, calcium 496, magnesium 1370, phos .07 and nitrate 8.4 all tested with Hanna Colorimeters, other then magnesium, which was tested with a Salifert test kit. I've considered the possibility that the test kit is faulty. I'm still learning a lot about the chemistry of the hobby, so I would like to get some opinions, and suggestions on how to bring the Ph down if it is indeed high. Thank you.

If you’ve got vigorous aeration and are not dosing a high pH alkalinity additive, I’d be amazed if pH is that high.