randys sodium hydroxide two part.......

[jhart85]

I agree with @Miami Reef, the aeration test results do not make sense to me, particularly one you aerated outside the house.

The most common cause of low pH is elevated indoor CO2 levels. Your test result would indicate that both indoor and outdoor CO2 levels are elevated and they are similar. I’m not sure what to make of that.

Do you live is city or area with a lot of car traffic? I’m grasping for something other than a probe issue.

I also live in a very rural area.

 

[rishma]

I agree with @Miami Reef, the aeration test results do not make sense to me, particularly one you aerated outside the house.

The most common cause of low pH is elevated indoor CO2 levels. Your test result would indicate that both indoor and outdoor CO2 levels are elevated and they are similar. I’m not sure what to make of that.

Do you live is city or area with a lot of car traffic? I’m grasping for something other than a probe issue.

I also live in a very rural area.

Ok, the pH of fully aerated water with outside air and a dKH of 10+ should be much higher than what you are seeing.

 

[Miami Reef]

Ok, the pH of fully aerated water with outside air and a dKH of 10+ should be much higher than what you are seeing.

His alk is around 7 dKH.

 

[rishma]

Ok, the pH of fully aerated water with outside air and a dKH of 10+ should be much higher than what you are seeing.

His alk is around 7 dKH.

Whoops, I didn’t read carefully enough.

I’d still expect pH of water after aeration with outdoor air to be higher. 8.1-8.2

 

[jhart85]

Whoops, I didn’t read carefully enough.

I’d still expect pH of water after aeration with outdoor air to be higher. 8.1-8.2

my dkh sits at 7.4 currently do you think this is bad probe or bad calibration?

 

[rishma]

I don’t know, but I do know that the pH of seawater water is determined by the carbonate alkalinity and the CO2. So something is amiss. Probe/calibrstion issues are certainly possible.

 

[rtparty]

It’s a bad probe. I no longer care or worry about pH and you are seeing a huge reason why right here. There are 99 variables and chasing it down just isn’t worth it IMO. You are doing plenty already to boost pH, stick with it, and either get a new probe or stop worrying about it.

If you decide to get a new probe, there is a Milwaukee probe on Amazon that I used multiple times and it’s like half the cost of Neptune or BRS probes. The few I used were great.

 

[jhart85]

It’s a bad probe. I no longer care or worry about pH and you are seeing a huge reason why right here. There are 99 variables and chasing it down just isn’t worth it IMO. You are doing plenty already to boost pH, stick with it, and either get a new probe or stop worrying about it.

If you decide to get a new probe, there is a Milwaukee probe on Amazon that I used multiple times and it’s like half the cost of Neptune or BRS probes. The few I used were great.

Thanks, I’m learning exactly what you said to be true with several aspects of things. The quality of things do absolutely not reflect the price of what you see in the hobby. Last weeks lesson was you need several test kits to cross reference KH test to determine who’s wrong. One bad batch of Hanna reagent cost another 100$ to diagnose

 

[cba191]

It’s a bad probe. I no longer care or worry about pH and you are seeing a huge reason why right here. There are 99 variables and chasing it down just isn’t worth it IMO. You are doing plenty already to boost pH, stick with it, and either get a new probe or stop worrying about it.

If you decide to get a new probe, there is a Milwaukee probe on Amazon that I used multiple times and it’s like half the cost of Neptune or BRS probes. The few I used were great.

I'm kind of happy that someone said that. I stress about pH. It's always about 7.8. My phosphate jumped to .16 though. Need to figure that one out now.

 

[rishma]

As someone who put extraordinary effort into achieving higher more stable pH, I don’t really disagree with @rtparty. There other more important things to focus on, but it’s a hobby and can be part of the fun.

 

[jhart85]

As someone who put extraordinary effort into achieving higher more stable pH, I don’t really disagree with @rtparty. There other more important things to focus on, but it’s a hobby and can be part of the fun.

I seen your post concerning bringing outside air in to an air stone. Seems like I may heed the advice and be the only person running a sps track at low ph

 

[rishma]

As someone who put extraordinary effort into achieving higher more stable pH, I don’t really disagree with @rtparty. There other more important things to focus on, but it’s a hobby and can be part of the fun.

I seen your post concerning bringing outside air in to an air stone. Seems like I may heed the advice and be the only person running a sps track at low ph

Oh, I guarantee you are not the only person. I’ve seen fabulous SPS tanks that have relatively low pH.

 

[jhart85]

Oh, I guarantee you are not the only person. I’ve seen fabulous SPS tanks that have relatively low pH.

I had a 30 gallon sps before this no outside air no Kalk, no ph monitoring no apex, no trace element correction. Simply esv with trace an and k mixed in. One water change a month and it thrived and nothing didn’t grow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The results suggest you have elevated indoor CO2 (since it is lower than outside), and that the pH meter may be reading a bit lower than actual (since the outdoor pH did not rise more).

 

[jhart85]

The results suggest you have elevated indoor CO2 (since it is lower than outside), and that the pH meter may be reading a bit lower than actual (since the outdoor pH did not rise more).

thanks randy that was my interpretation as well. I appreciate the insight

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

ok thanks randy ill start with sodium carbonate is there a suggested trace A and K amount to add by chance.

I’ve been using A&K for a couple years. I used it for the last 12 months also while I was doing Moonshine. I switched to Captiv8 and ran it for the first two ICPs on that. I’m not transitioning off A&K and solely on Captiv8. To put it in perspective, I’m dosing 15 mil of each at mid night into 525g that is heavy SPS. The ratio (G to Mil) I have stayed consistent with or without Moonshine/Captiv8. For me now we shall see.

Vid from Friday night for perspective:

 

[jhart85]

I’ve been using A&K for a couple years. I used it for the last 12 months also while I was doing Moonshine. I switched to Captiv8 and ran it for the first two ICPs on that. I’m not transitioning off A&K and solely on Captiv8. To put it in perspective, I’m dosing 15 mil of each at mid night into 525g that is heavy SPS. The ratio (G to Mil) I have stayed consistent with or without Moonshine/Captiv8. For me now we shall see.

Vid from Friday night for perspective:

Great info and nice colors on the acros, I’ll definitely look into cativ8 to supplement after using up my a and k. I’m going to slowly transition to Randy hydroxide method and off fauna Marin balling light.