high pH again

[Blazin__]

just went up to 8.6 today... it seems to be climbing slowly.... what would cause this?? its a 29 gal overflow setup with fuge and is about 2 years old all params are ok. ammonia nitrate and nitrite all 0 calcium is 400 i dont have a proper alk test kit but the one i have says its high. i have been dosing kalk in all topoff water for about a year now without any adverse effects

 

[Anonymous]

What are you testing with?
What was it before?

Welcome to RDO!

 

[ChrisRD]

Does the tank have good surface agitation, a protein skimmer, etc.? I find when there's a lack of aeration kalkwasser has a much bigger impact on raising my pH. If you drip the kalk in a turbulent area of the sump and make sure the system is well aerated, it should help stabilize pH IME.

 

[ChrisRD]

Also, you could try using a less- than-saturated (ie. less potent) kalkwasser for top-off if all else fails...

...but first let us know the answers to Righty's questions...

 

[Blazin__]

ya im skimming and adding in a tubulent area.. i mix my kalk 1/2 tsp to every gallon of topup water.. i also have a hang on overflow so it it taking the surface water off.... i have a pinpoint monitor that i last recalibrated about 3 weeks ago... the past 2 weeks is when the pH started creeping up today it hit 8.65

 

[ChrisRD]

How much topoff does the tank typically take per day? I would calibrate the probe and see what your readings are after that. Also, if your LFS does water testing you might try taking a sample to them to get a comparitive reading...

 

[Blazin__]

got it tested today... and its not my equipment... it is just high for some reason... i tested my pinpoint against 2 other ones... and they bolth tested high 8.7 today i did a water change last night brought it down for a bit.. then it went right back up again.. .this is startin to worry me

 

[da colts1]

i keep my ph on the high scale, always have, it seems to have an effect on the amount of algae i have. i have a 125 reef, and a 55 all fish tank. the 125 has 0 nitrates. the fish tank has at least 200 ppm no bad algae in either tank, and i keep the ph at about 8.5 to 8.6 in both tanks. now guys please don't flame me, it works for me and my over night ph only drops to t 8.1 to 8.2. i slowly acclimate my new arrivals and all do very well. here is a pic of the 125, and a pic of my set up showing the ph monitor.

 

[da colts1]

pic of set up showing ph monitor. now i don't necessarily say to keep your ph that high, but i have kept marine tanks for 17 years, and i always have kept my ph that high.the monitor is at the lower right and you can see it is reading 8.5, it was just calibrated 2 weeks ago.

 

[ChrisRD]

Blazin,

What do you use for source water (ie. tap, RO, distilled, etc.)?

 

[da colts1]

i use deionized

 

[Anonymous]

And what was the level it was climbing from?