High PH - Won't stay down

Phillybean · 01/04/2018, 12:32 AM

Tank has been running since September. PH has been around 7.9-8.0. In the last three weeks it has raised up to 8.55. I've had poor polyp extension during this time. Today I dosed vinegar to bring it down to 8.2. Within 15 minutes there was noticeable increase in polyp extension, but 5 hours later, it is back up to 8.45 and polyp extension is down.

Parameters are ok, 1.025, 0 phosphate and nitrate, Calcium 420, DKH a little low at 7 (all API), Mag at 1350 red sea. I run biopellets and carbon in reactors with a Vertex 150 skimmer.

Tank is a 90 gallon inwall that shares a room with the furnace/hot water heater/washer & dryer.

How can I decrease it back to the 8.1-8.3 range and have it there consistently?

mcgyvr · 01/04/2018, 07:39 AM

I would ensure your PH test is accurate before doing anything though..
But here.. multiple solutions to high PH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/

bertoni · 01/04/2018, 02:11 PM

Anything below 8.6 should be safe. You could dose soda water instead of vinegar, to reduce the likelihood of a bacterial bloom.

I agree that the measurement is a bit suspect. Does the tank have a skimmer? I'd make sure the water surface was clean and had a good rippling motion. That's seldom a problem, but it can lead to pH issues. More aeration should bring the pH down, if there's actually a problem. Is the tank getting Kalk or any high-pH alkalinity supplement added?

01/04/2018, 12:32 AM	#1
Phillybean Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kelowna B.C. Posts: 610	High PH - Won't stay down Tank has been running since September. PH has been around 7.9-8.0. In the last three weeks it has raised up to 8.55. I've had poor polyp extension during this time. Today I dosed vinegar to bring it down to 8.2. Within 15 minutes there was noticeable increase in polyp extension, but 5 hours later, it is back up to 8.45 and polyp extension is down. Parameters are ok, 1.025, 0 phosphate and nitrate, Calcium 420, DKH a little low at 7 (all API), Mag at 1350 red sea. I run biopellets and carbon in reactors with a Vertex 150 skimmer. Tank is a 90 gallon inwall that shares a room with the furnace/hot water heater/washer & dryer. How can I decrease it back to the 8.1-8.3 range and have it there consistently? __________________ It's not how much is costs that matters, it's how much you told your wife it costs!

01/04/2018, 07:39 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I would ensure your PH test is accurate before doing anything though.. But here.. multiple solutions to high PH http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/ __________________ Who me?

01/04/2018, 02:11 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Anything below 8.6 should be safe. You could dose soda water instead of vinegar, to reduce the likelihood of a bacterial bloom. I agree that the measurement is a bit suspect. Does the tank have a skimmer? I'd make sure the water surface was clean and had a good rippling motion. That's seldom a problem, but it can lead to pH issues. More aeration should bring the pH down, if there's actually a problem. Is the tank getting Kalk or any high-pH alkalinity supplement added? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni