High PH

[RownSurf81]

Hello,

I've noticed my PH trending upwards over the last few days. It's gone over 8.4 and this seems dangerous to me since it appears to still be climbing. I'm looking for any thoguhts on why this might be and what else I should measure that could be causing it. Also, I've heard adding baking soda can lower Ph. Is this safe and how much should be used?

thanks,

Justin

 

[reefwick]

Check out the reef chemistry forum. There are articles dealing with this exact problem.

 

[Ti]

How high has it been going?

 

[RownSurf81]

My electronic sensor measured it at 8.47 at one point. Using a test kit all I can see is that as of tonight it's considerably closer to 8.5 than 8.3
I'll also check out the chem forum

thanks

 

[RownSurf81]

I read over the article in reef keeper mag and tested my alkalinity afterwards. Since that was down around 2.7, it leads me to believe my tank is not well aerated and so there is not enough CO2. I will use soda water for now to lower the Ph, but it seems I should address the aeration problem so it doesn't keep occuring. Any further advice along this line is appreciated.

thanks,

Justin

 

[spslover123]

If you have any powerheads, you could angle them up so they "ripple" the surface. I think that would help a bit.

 

[integlikewhoa]

What size tank? No sump im guessing? Can u give us a run down?

 

[RownSurf81]

I hadn't checked this in a few days but saw that a few othersa had responded since last I did. the PH is still high, thoguh not as high. I'm not sure why it went down, but I'm still going to use the carbonated water to being it downa bit more. Still need to address the problem though.

I've reangled my powerheads to ripple ths euface a bit more.

I'm running a 75g with a 20long sump. Using a euroreef skimmer in there witha hang-on-back overlfow draining inot the sump. A Tunze turbells stream moves the water along with a few smaller powrhads and my return. Auto topoff from a resevoir of RO/DI water next to the tank. I mix my PH buffer into that, thoguh havne't in a while since the PH seemed to have stabalized. Apparently the alk hasn't though as of last week, so I'll need to address that.

any more advice is appareciated

thanks,

Justin