Question about high PH

Penguintheory · 03/30/2010, 08:14 AM

If a tank has a PH of 10 and Alk of 14 with almost no surface agitation would the solution be as easy as adding more surface flow? I have been reading a lot and I am just trying to make sence of it all. I know that all additives are just a temporary solution so I would like to address the problem it's self.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/30/2010, 08:36 AM

pH of 10 is testing error. It would be milky white with a precipitate of magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate.

These have more:

High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm

Penguintheory · 03/30/2010, 08:55 AM

The tank has a milwaukee Ph probe reading 10.1 but it looks like I will have to recalibrate that. On my test kit it goes to 8.9 and the color I get is off my chart. I use the test kits on my tank and others and they always work fine so I know it is not user error.
I did read through those articles and that is where I get stuck I have never had this issue in my tank so it am hesitant to add chemicals to the tank for a temp fix.
The water parameters on the tank have been the same or the last 3 months and with the exception of a toadstool leather all the coral are suffering and the fish do not look good either. It is a 90 gal with a closed loop and no surface agitation. I have been doing 30 gal water changes on it every other week with no reduction on the alk and ph.

PH- over 9
Alk- 14
Cal- 420
Nitrate- 10ppm
Po4- around 0

Any advice is welcome.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/30/2010, 10:01 AM

I'd recalibrate the probe with pH 7 and 10 solutions and recheck the tank.

pH also never gets too high on its own in a reasonable reef tank. Are you adding anything to the water?

Penguintheory · 03/30/2010, 10:37 AM

No additives are being used. They use RO water for top-off and I have been using instant ocean salt with RO-DI water.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/30/2010, 01:23 PM

OK, the tank pH won't be over 8.4 at most.

Penguintheory · 03/30/2010, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the help.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/30/2010, 04:17 PM

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.

03/30/2010, 08:14 AM	#1
Penguintheory Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoria, Az Posts: 352	Question about high PH If a tank has a PH of 10 and Alk of 14 with almost no surface agitation would the solution be as easy as adding more surface flow? I have been reading a lot and I am just trying to make sence of it all. I know that all additives are just a temporary solution so I would like to address the problem it's self.

03/30/2010, 08:36 AM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	pH of 10 is testing error. It would be milky white with a precipitate of magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate. These have more: High pH: Causes and Cures http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium? http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/30/2010, 10:01 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I'd recalibrate the probe with pH 7 and 10 solutions and recheck the tank. pH also never gets too high on its own in a reasonable reef tank. Are you adding anything to the water? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/30/2010, 01:23 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	OK, the tank pH won't be over 8.4 at most. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/30/2010, 04:17 PM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	You're welcome. Happy reefing. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/30/2010, 08:55 AM	#3
Penguintheory Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoria, Az Posts: 352	The tank has a milwaukee Ph probe reading 10.1 but it looks like I will have to recalibrate that. On my test kit it goes to 8.9 and the color I get is off my chart. I use the test kits on my tank and others and they always work fine so I know it is not user error. I did read through those articles and that is where I get stuck I have never had this issue in my tank so it am hesitant to add chemicals to the tank for a temp fix. The water parameters on the tank have been the same or the last 3 months and with the exception of a toadstool leather all the coral are suffering and the fish do not look good either. It is a 90 gal with a closed loop and no surface agitation. I have been doing 30 gal water changes on it every other week with no reduction on the alk and ph. PH- over 9 Alk- 14 Cal- 420 Nitrate- 10ppm Po4- around 0 Any advice is welcome.

03/30/2010, 10:37 AM	#5
Penguintheory Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoria, Az Posts: 352	No additives are being used. They use RO water for top-off and I have been using instant ocean salt with RO-DI water.

03/30/2010, 02:01 PM	#7
Penguintheory Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoria, Az Posts: 352	Thanks for the help.