PH Super High!

malx

malx

Active member
Hey guys.

So my Carpet Anemone has been struggling a bit since I put him in his bigger tank on Friday. Water was good until I checked PH. It's 8.6. I have no idea how it got super high. I tested this with a calibrated PH probe. Anyone experience this and what recommendations do people have to lower it? Maybe a large water change with lower PH water?

Let me know and thanks!

Joey


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Ok, just did a 10g water change on the 20g and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.4 which is more bearable and already the nem looks better. I need a more permanent solution.
 
malx said:
Ok, just did a 10g water change on the 20g and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.4 which is more bearable and already the nem looks better. I need a more permanent solution.
Click to expand...
Hi! Do you have good water movement at the surface? Also do you have a open top style tank or a closed lid? I have a screen top....and a EchoTech MP40 so I have plenty of water movement at the surface....this helps stabilize the PH...my PH is always 8.2. Try pointing a power head at the surface....then check your PH in the morning and at night over a few days...to compare.

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Cancun said:
Hi! Do you have good water movement at the surface? Also do you have a open top style tank or a closed lid? I have a screen top....and a EchoTech MP40 so I have plenty of water movement at the surface....this helps stabilize the PH...my PH is always 8.2. Try pointing a power head at the surface....then check your PH in the morning and at night over a few days...to compare.

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yes, open top. My tank sits near a window and I think the sunlight is spiking the PH. I did a W/C and also lowered the PH down to 8.3 with some Soda Water. I also have an extra Neptune PH probe and PM1, so I hooked it up to this tank. The probe isn't calibrated, but using the probe in my main display I was able to figure out that this PH probe is reading .2 lower than what the PH is, so for the next few days, I'm going to manage the PH with soda water and see how the nem does. He already looks much better.
 
malx said:
Yes, open top. My tank sits near a window and I think the sunlight is spiking the PH. I did a W/C and also lowered the PH down to 8.3 with some Soda Water. I also have an extra Neptune PH probe and PM1, so I hooked it up to this tank. The probe isn't calibrated, but using the probe in my main display I was able to figure out that this PH probe is reading .2 lower than what the PH is, so for the next few days, I'm going to manage the PH with soda water and see how the nem does. He already looks much better.
Click to expand...
Oh that is great! I am glad he is looking better! Sounds like you are on the right track! [emoji3]

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Cancun said:
Oh that is great! I am glad he is looking better! Sounds like you are on the right track! [emoji3]

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks. It was a night and day change, but just a hunch I checked the PH and bam, found out that my API test kit was WAY off. It was reading 8. I don't trust those S**T test kits, but I just wanted it as a guideline. 0.6 difference is literally an unmanageable margin of error.
 
malx said:
Yes, open top. My tank sits near a window and I think the sunlight is spiking the PH. I did a W/C and also lowered the PH down to 8.3 with some Soda Water. I also have an extra Neptune PH probe and PM1, so I hooked it up to this tank. The probe isn't calibrated, but using the probe in my main display I was able to figure out that this PH probe is reading .2 lower than what the PH is, so for the next few days, I'm going to manage the PH with soda water and see how the nem does. He already looks much better.
Click to expand...

I feel like you should try not to chase the pH with additives and the like. Find the source of what might be causing it (like as someone suggested, the surface not having enough movement). Chasing the pH with additives will be difficult for you to consistently keep up over time. Its better if its not too far out of range to let it 'settle' somewhere near where it should be with relatively natural means.
 
mcgyvr said:
If you haven't already seen this..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

I too would suggest you look at how you are aerating the water currently and try to increase that as the first step..
Click to expand...

Yep I read that. The PH right now is good, if it spikes again today, I'm going to toss in an airstone to see if that makes a difference. I do have a lot of surface movement so not sure what's up. I don't have a skimmer on this tank but I ran a similar setup with a 10 gallon for 18 months with the same animals no PH issues.

Anemone already looks worlds better this morning. PH is 8
 
I'm considering dosing CO2 with a regulator and APEX controller here. PH is back up to 8.5 right now and I'm stuck at work. Will be home in 1/2 hour to put some soda water in to lower it down to 8.4 until it drops naturally.
 
Just dosed some soda water, PH now 8.3 instead of 8.5. Nem not looking good today. If he opens up a bit at night I'm going to see if he will take food. Maybe he's weak.
 
AlSimmons said:
What's the ZEOvit for? Is there anything else in the 20 gallon tank besides the anemone?
Click to expand...

Two clownfish and a clean up crew right now. It's just what I've been successful with the nem before. I have had him living in a 10 gallon for 18 months thriving.
 
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