High pH and High Salinity

[pwlong]

Hello,
I have a hammer coral that has not been opening up fully as of late. I tested the pH and salinity and found the pH to be ~7.5 at peak photo period(9:00pm) and salinity was 1.0265(normally keep at 1.0245-1.025).
Do either of these levels sound extremely high? I reduced the salinity back to 1.0245 but the pH is another matter. I do not know how to lower it. Is that level too high? I dose B-ionic in the morning, when the pH is lowest, 7.8 and have not had any problems with pH before. I know it normally runs a little high(8.2-8.4) at peak photo period.
TIA,
Phil

 

[erasmu]

The salinity is high. I would suggest 1.023 to 1.024. The pH is way too low. It should be in the 8.2 to 8.3 range. It probably drops below the 7.5 you mention, in the early morning hours. That is very risky. Make your changes slowly though. Immediate full scale corrections can be as bad as the wrong parameters.

 

[Anonymous]

i keep my salinity at ~ 1.024 - 1.025 (at 81 degrees F), so i don't think salinitity is a problem. unless you've got organisms from a lower salt region, i think the salinity should be okay.

as suggested, the target reading for pH is ~ 8.3

 

[pwlong]

I made an error in my level for pH. It was 8.5, not 7.5. I tested it again today and it was down to 8.3-8.4. I didn't dose today to help lower it. Salinity is OK now at 1.0245. Does the pH sound excessive? I will dose less for a few weeks to see if the hammer recovers. Thanks.
Phil

 

[ReefMon]

pH and salinity sound fine depending on what it is your using to measure them...

I just calibrated a swingarm with my refractometer for a friend and it was off by .006 (swingarm was reading 1.020 and I got 1.026), so unless you have the proper equipment or have at least checked it you really have no idea on what anything is.

And if your adding B-ionic, what's your alkalinity at? If your adding something as powerful as that you should be paying very close attention to your alkalinity.

HTH
Glenn R

 

[pwlong]

I have a good Tropic Marin hydrometer that I have checked against other large hydrometers and I trust it. I will check alk and calc tomorrow to see that those levels are OK. I may be overdosing(50ml per day of each part in a 75g).