pH problem.

michika · #1 12-31-2004, 05:23 PM

Having some sudden and what seems to be unexplained pH problems. Everything was fine on the 25th pH 8.2, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, calcium 460ppm, and SG 1.023.

Yesterday evening and still today the ph has dropped to 7.8-7.9, calcium moved up to 480ppm, SG 1.024 and everything else is still at zero.

1 29g tank running in tandem with a 10g along side. Only big change that has occured has been a water change (Kent salt), and the addition of a new anenome.

Ideas on what is causing this pH drop? Everything seems fine right now so I'm hesitant to add anything without knowing what is triggering this drop on pH.

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #2 12-31-2004, 05:33 PM

What type of water did you use for the water change? In other words, what pH was your new water at since that was one of the few changes that occurred prior to your pH dip.

Anthony

michika · #3 12-31-2004, 05:35 PM

RO/DI water, ph was 8.2 in new water and in existing tank water, and SG was both 1.023 in both.

snaggle · #4 12-31-2004, 05:52 PM

shouldnt RO/DI water have a PH of 7.0 or did you add the salt before the test?

michika · #5 12-31-2004, 05:54 PM

Didn't test water's pH before adding salt....ro/di water + salt =8.2pH

Dez · #6 12-31-2004, 06:20 PM

I wouldn't be concerned about a ph of 7.9. I have a friend that has run a very successful reef tank for 6-7 years straight and his ph is constantly at 7.9. And yes he does calibrate his ph monitor on a regular basis.

Des

michika · #7 12-31-2004, 06:28 PM

Good to know, I just wish I knew what triggered this sudden drop.

I guess I'll just wait and see what happens in the next couple of days.

Dez · #8 12-31-2004, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika

Good to know, I just wish I knew what triggered this sudden drop.

I guess I'll just wait and see what happens in the next couple of days.

If you never monitered your ph then you'd never know that there was a sudden drop

I never knew what the ph was in my 180 in the 2 plus years that I ran the tank. Never had an algae bloom, never had any problems....

But that's just me, I'm just pure lazy.

Des

michika · #9 12-31-2004, 07:26 PM

It was a sudden drop though, I tested the ph in the tank before I added the new water and it was fine, then an hour later I went back and tested the tank water + new water and the pH had dropped.

Jack · #10 12-31-2004, 07:54 PM

What are you using to monitor the pH?