High PH....

[AquaWave523]

I'm still waiting for my tank to cycle, it's about 2 weeks now and I did some water tests and got a reading of 8.8 on one of those marine liquid test kits. I believe it is either 8.8 or higher, it'll just show purple. How do i lower my ph and why is it this high?

Will this adjust over time?

[Michael]

its very difficult to get a ph that high, unless your adding limewater or tap water, even tap doesnt usually get that high, id recommend buying another test kit to confirm first, very likely its either a faulty test kit or user error. :)

[BurntOutReefer]

8.8 is a little high....at high range should be 8.4....
test the kits...take a water sample to LFS and ask them to test the water...that should tell you.since you are still cycling, it makes no sense to do a water change...

[singold]

Better high than low........due to its relationship associated with Alkalinity level. I would suspect you are close to level on your PH stated. What test kit are you using?

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15355010#post15355010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaWave523
How do i lower my ph...?
:confused:

[AquaWave523]

ok just checked this morning its down to 8.4, maybe faulty test kit. Grrr...i might have to get another kit. Week 2 into the cycle...

Current stats:

90 gallon Pre-drilled w/ Wet Dry attached (8.5 gal sump mainly used for sump, no bio balls with live rock rumble)
125 gallon Protein Skimmer
RO/DI water
pH: 8.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Salanity: 1.024
Temp: 79
95lbs of Live Rock "cured"
10lbs of Tonga Branch
15lbs of "cured sand" with total of 60lbs sand

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Check it a few times over the course of a day. Most tanks will vary - higher in the day when photosynthetic life is taking up CO2 and giving off O2, and lower at night when the plant life is giving off CO2 and taking up O2.

8.4 is OK, 8.8 is pretty high as others have said. I would be interested to know what your calcium and alkalinity are.

[AquaWave523]

do i need to check for calcium and alk? i only have a fish only and what would this do to the fish? what causes it? what can i do to lower it?

[der_wille_zur_macht]

In most cases, poeple with fish only tanks don't need to be overly concerned with calcium or alkalinity. The reason why I mentioned it in this context is that calcium and alkalinity (and, arguably, magnesium) are pretty tightly linked to pH, so often when a tank has "weird" pH problems it is useful to know if they are out of whack.

Here is some good reading:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15355010#post15355010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaWave523
How do i lower my ph...?
:confused:

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15355582#post15355582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaWave523
ok just checked this morning its down to 8.4, maybe faulty test kit. Grrr...i might have to get another kit. Week 2 into the cycle...

Current stats:

90 gallon Pre-drilled w/ Wet Dry attached (8.5 gal sump mainly used for sump, no bio balls with live rock rumble)
125 gallon Protein Skimmer
RO/DI water
pH: 8.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Salanity: 1.024
Temp: 79
95lbs of Live Rock "cured"
10lbs of Tonga Branch
15lbs of "cured sand" with total of 60lbs sand

If these are the correct parameters for a two week old tank then you are fine.
IMO just let it cycle

Whys--should be calling the doctor for you?:D

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15359038#post15359038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
Whys--should be calling the doctor for you?:D
It's funny to watch people dance around a direct question. ;)