Very high pH

[markster33139]

I am noticing that whenever I leave my house, for a couple days, even for one day, the pH starts to rise to a peak of 8.45. I suppose it's because the house is locked up, any suggestions on how I can keep the pH normal which for my tank is between 8.1 and 8.3. Thanks

[disc1]

That's not "very high pH". That's pH that is ever so slightly above your normal reading. It is going up because you aren't there breathing out all that CO2. This isn't something you should concern yourself over.

[Dario666]

Agree 8.45 is fine

[markster33139]

Ok well let me ask, what should be considered high pH, and thanks for the responses

[disc1]

Ok well let me ask, what should be considered high pH, and thanks for the responses

When the alkalinity and calcium come crashing out of solution and it looks like a snowstorm in the tank. That means the pH got too high.

Don't worry so much with pH.

[disc1]

The thing to remember is that over normal conditions the pH in seawater can range over about 1 pH unit and that's it. Unless you get really extreme, you're not going to get normal seawater with normal alkalinity to go outside of the range of about 7.6 to about 8.6. If you see a pH outside that range and you haven't done something drastic to cause it like dumping in a bunch of kalk or hydrochloric acid then you should doubt your measurement. So the real answer is that you're almost never going to see any issue in your tank that is related to pH.

Worrying with pH is for freshwater aquarium keepers where pH can range from the low 5's to the high 9's. In the saltwater world our water is buffered with bicarbonate / carbonate so we don't have pH issues.

[markster33139]

Thank you