- Joined
- Feb 12, 2020
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- 35
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Hello, I have a 150 gallon tank with 34 g sump. I run an Apex monitor w/PH probe. My ph is typically on the higher side of normal...8.4 to 8.5 even at it's peaks. The lows were usually 8.2 to 8.3. Several reasons for this...I have a fresh air system that replaces the air in my whole house by exchanging the heat/cool with fresh air. I have my HRV set to run 80% of the time. Upstairs (ranch house, tank is in the basement) the CO2 concentration is 420 ppm give or take. I also run a CO2 scrubber and I found the media never changes from white to purple like you'd usually expect.
So two weeks ago my PH probe is reading off the charts, 8.6...so I figure it's time to replace the probe. But just before I did that, I calibrated the probe in 7.0 and 10.0 solution. It read them both spot on. So then I ran the Apex auto calibration...ever since I did this, the ph has read low....in the high 7's and barely will crack 8.0. So I bought a new PH probe. Calibrate it and it's the same thing....low 8 at the highest. So I do a large water change to see if that may be the issue....no change.
I also run a refugium...now I would think with an HRV running 80% of the day brining in fresh air to the entire house, CO2 levels at or near outside air, a CO2 scrubber on my Deltec SC2060, AND a refugium, my Ph should never dip below 8.2.
Could all this be PH Monitor related? I haven't checked my skimmer's intake but I hear it running and I can hear it pulling in air from the CO2 scrubber.
BRS advised if my Calc was too high it may interfere with the monitor readings...that's why I did the large water change. My Hanna multi checker said Calc was over 600...but I don't really trust it.
Salinity - 1.025
Alk - 8.0
Calc - 600+ (don't believe this)
Mag - 1650
Temp - 77
Mixed reef with mostly SPS, some LPS. 22 fish...lots of flow...1 large Gyre and 3 MP40's.
The only change I made was adding Rowaphos in a bag at the mechanical filtering area....I've since removed it and Ph hasn't changed in several days.
I'm also re-checking Cal and Mag with Salifert Test Kits to get accurate readings. I wouldn't think my 50% water change with Instant Ocean would result in Calc over 600ppm???
So two weeks ago my PH probe is reading off the charts, 8.6...so I figure it's time to replace the probe. But just before I did that, I calibrated the probe in 7.0 and 10.0 solution. It read them both spot on. So then I ran the Apex auto calibration...ever since I did this, the ph has read low....in the high 7's and barely will crack 8.0. So I bought a new PH probe. Calibrate it and it's the same thing....low 8 at the highest. So I do a large water change to see if that may be the issue....no change.
I also run a refugium...now I would think with an HRV running 80% of the day brining in fresh air to the entire house, CO2 levels at or near outside air, a CO2 scrubber on my Deltec SC2060, AND a refugium, my Ph should never dip below 8.2.
Could all this be PH Monitor related? I haven't checked my skimmer's intake but I hear it running and I can hear it pulling in air from the CO2 scrubber.
BRS advised if my Calc was too high it may interfere with the monitor readings...that's why I did the large water change. My Hanna multi checker said Calc was over 600...but I don't really trust it.
Salinity - 1.025
Alk - 8.0
Calc - 600+ (don't believe this)
Mag - 1650
Temp - 77
Mixed reef with mostly SPS, some LPS. 22 fish...lots of flow...1 large Gyre and 3 MP40's.
The only change I made was adding Rowaphos in a bag at the mechanical filtering area....I've since removed it and Ph hasn't changed in several days.
I'm also re-checking Cal and Mag with Salifert Test Kits to get accurate readings. I wouldn't think my 50% water change with Instant Ocean would result in Calc over 600ppm???