Radion XR30 and Increased PH

[New2Reef2023]

Happy Thanksgiving R2R folks!

I need guidance please! I installed a Radion XR30 on a Red Sea 300 65 gallon, fowlr, 2 clowns, anemone, cleanup crew FOWLR. My PH went from 8.3 to 8.6.

Is this normal? Plan on cleaning and a water swap tomorrow as it, but do I need to do anything about the increased PH?

Any guidance is sincerely appreciated!

 

[ChrisRD]

An increase in light intensity might be boosting daytime pH a bit but that sounds like quite a jump. How are you measuring pH?

 

[New2Reef2023]

Hanna Monitor with apex ph and Hanna hand monitor. Both calibrated and read 8.6. I keep the light on from 8a to 10p

 

[hoffmeyerz]

What light did you change from, and how much intensity did you start the radion on? My guess would be the radion is putting out more intensity and you are seeing the results of more photosynthesis activity. You may next notice an increase in algae. Also keep an eye on that anemone as they can react poorly to drastic light changes.

 

[New2Reef2023]

What light did you change from, and how much intensity did you start the radion on? My guess would be the radion is putting out more intensity and you are seeing the results of more photosynthesis activity. You may next notice an increase in algae. Also keep an eye on that anemone as they can react poorly to drastic light changes.

Just a regular LED bar light I had installed. Nothing special, a regular LED bar light basically. Settings: no clue. Low level. Ill keep tabs.

Any suggestions on lighting levels?

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Before I had coral in my 75gal I ran my two xr15 lights at 8000k and like 35%. Have you downloaded and connected to the Mobius app yet? Do that if you haven't yet so you can calibrate and control the light. Make sure you watch that nem, I lost one years ago when made a lighting change.

 

[New2Reef2023]

I have Mobius. Added 2 Ecotech MP40mQDs as well. I have calibrate on. Ill toy with low light settings.

Any suggestions for lighting with a FOWLR?

 

[hoffmeyerz]

I personally liked a slightly higher than daylight color temp which is why I used 8000k. I kept the intensity lower to help keep algae growth down but also I just found that bright enough. With no coral in the tank I only ran the light for six hours a day.
With a nem in that tank you could argue it's not fish only anymore. That nem in many ways is just like coral, it will be using that light to feed the Zooxanthellae living inside of it giving it energy.

 

[FishyHotel]

I had a similar result when I got an XR 30. I do have my lights pretty cranked for most of the photo period, but it definitely boosted the PH in my tank. I run 100 for the blues/purples and about 60 % for the whites.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Such a jump from a lighting increase might be an indication that more aeration could be desirable for oxygen at night.