A little advice please

[BNS77]

I can't seem to get my Alk down(10.2). Calcium is within the correct parameters. How ever PH is down constantly(7.0 just 5 minutes ago), but my understanding is that adding a PH buffer will increase Alk even more. Am I understanding this correct or am I way off base. I just did a 25% water last weekend. Any suggestions on a fix to this issue would be greatly appreciated.

[blanden.adam]

Your understanding of buffers is correct, they are all alkalinity supplements. However, I highly doubt your pH is actually 7.0 if you have things alive in your aquarium. That would stress most things to death. How are you measuring your pH?

[bertoni]

A pH reading of 7.0 can't be correct for a living saltwater tank. I'd ignore the reading for the moment, and concentrate on watching the animals for signs of trouble.

[BNS77]

I just had a new ph probe sent from Digital Aquatics on a Reef Keeper Elite. The first one was faulty. That's what I'm going by.

[BNS77]

Fish are very happy and corals are fine as well.

[disc1]

At a pH of 7.0 you'd be noticing your sand and rocks starting to dissolve. That action would buffer the pH back up naturally to 7.6 or better. So that reading cannot be correct.

Have you calibrated to the new probe? Maybe try calibrating again. Sometimes brand new probes will see a big drift right when you first start to use them.

[bertoni]

Also, electrical interference can be a problem. Personally, I'd just ignore the pH reading as long as the animals are doing well.