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06/29/2012, 02:42 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
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Location: elgin, IL
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reef water parameters
Here are my reef parameters.
Salinity - 1.027 Alk - 10 Salifert Cal - 450 Salifert Mag - 1325 Salifert Nitrates - 0 API Ammonia - 0 API Nitirites - 0 API pH -7.8 API Temp. today is 79.2 Can someone tell me why my alk is a little high and pH is low? I didn't check my pH last weekend but my alk last weekend was 9.3. During the week, I did top off with a little salt water and fresh water.
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06/29/2012, 03:18 PM
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#2 |
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Location: Miami, Fl
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not sure what kind of tester an API is? but if it is anything but a calibrated digital ph meter it is probably not to accurate...
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06/29/2012, 03:19 PM
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#3 |
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Location: elgin, IL
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Its a liquid test kit.
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06/29/2012, 04:58 PM
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#4 |
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Location: Belmont, CA
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What's your pH at normally? Have you tried testing @ different times in the day? pH can swing significantly over the course of a day in some systems. Stability is more important than the actual number I think.
Those numbers aren't that bad. pH is a little low but it's within the normal range and there's not much you can do to change it. Maybe try increasing aeration if it's a concern. |
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06/29/2012, 05:36 PM
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#5 |
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I haven't checked it in awhile but last time I did, it was 8.2.
I checked my pH this morning when the lights went on and it was 7.8 and I just checked it again now and still the same. Don't see any ill effects but I would like it to be at 8.2. I just recently went from a closed top tank to an open top tank with a screen mesh. This was about 3-4 days ago. Not sure if that had anything to do with it.
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06/29/2012, 11:53 PM
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#6 |
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RC Mod
 Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
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7.8 is a fairly common pH for a tank in a house with the windows closed. As long as the alkalinity is normal, I wouldn't worry much. You could switch to Kalkwasser or try to get fresher air to the tank if you want to try to raise the pH. Those approaches might help.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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06/30/2012, 10:12 AM
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#7 |
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ReefKeeping Mag staff
  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Seneca NY
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Co2 levels can vary . More CO2 in the water will drop ph. The alk hould not increase without adding it. PRobably th slat mix or testing noise.
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Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals. |
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06/30/2012, 12:41 PM
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#8 |
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
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I have the same problem and concern as well. I did noticed that once I went into s closed up top my PH dropped as well. I'm assuming (from my own observation) that closing the system dropped my PH as well. I'm opening up my top now.
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06/30/2012, 08:41 PM
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#9 |
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RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
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That might help a lot. Results do vary, though. I ran tanks with glass tops for a long time without problems, but there were large openings at the front and back, so I don't think they changed aeration much.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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