Yikes! PH Way to High - Now What?

[WaterWaterEverywhere]

Hi all - I'm new to this forum. What brought me here is a complicated issue. I've gotten littel direction from elsewhere - you know the standard: Lot's of water changes.

Anyway - I have a FO tank that is running with a PH of 8.9. I've done many 40% water changes with RO water and can't seem to get this down to a reasonable range.

I have also tried small doses of vinigar over a few weeks.

The fish all seem fine but this is not good - I'm sure of that. In addition I am afraid to add any fish to this tank while in this condition.

How it got this way: PH monitor was on the blink - added some Kent super buffer - the rest is history.

Any Suggestions?

 

[randy holmes-farley]

The aquarium probably has elevated alkalinity (if the pH is really that high), and if alkalinity is too high, pH can stay high until the alkalinty comes down.

Vinegar is not a permanent solution.

I'd measure the alkalinity. If it is higher than 5 meq/L, that might be the cause. If it is not, then I expect a pH measurement error (unless you have added some high pH supplement that you did not mention).

If the alkalinity is much higher than 5 meq/l, you can bring it down by adding calcium chloride and precipitating calcium carbonate, or you can add a mineral acid (like hydrochloric acid) which will instantly bring down the alkalinity and pH but risks overshooting.

 

[WaterWaterEverywhere]

Randy,

Thanks very much for the info. Yep sounds sound, I do not have a test kit for alkalinity so I guess it's time to buy one.

I did mention that it got this way through the addition of Kent Super Buffer which I think basically increases dKH (carbonate).

Understood about adding things is not a permanant fix - actually things were fine until the addition of the 'super buffer'. So once things are stabalized again I think it should be ok. I'm pretty sure the monitor's readings are very close as I have recently calibrated it about 3 times.

So 2 more questions, if I may, 1.) Is this high a PH harmful to a fish-only tank, 2.) Where can I obtain Calcium Chloride for this prupose.

And thank you again for your help.

Tom

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I don't know what effects the pH has on fish.

You can get calcium chloride from Kent (turbo calcium or liquid calcium), ESV, and a variety of other manufacturers. You can also use Dow Flake 77-80% calcium chloride from Home Depot, but you'll be getting 50 pounds that way.