Ph

[mark peacock]

Hi over the last 3 to 4 years i have never managed to keep my ph at 8.3 or even 8.0 always been around 7.9 until i buffer it up every now and then, but recently my reef seems to be getting a ph of 8.4 and it is stable but i am not doing anything to get this 2 days ago it was 8.3 now today it is 8.4 its increasing do i need to worry. the only thing i have done a week ago i only used 3 bags of fluval carbon in stead of 6 in my filter?.
mark.

 

[DonW]

Your ph is fine. It may just be the fact that your reef is maturing and you have less nasties rotting. Ph is usually affected by the amount of co2 in the water.

Don

 

[mark peacock]

Thanks Don what is the max ph for a reef just incase it goes up again.
mark.

 

[Boomer]

How are you measuring pH ? If it is a pH meter in the water all the time Algae can grow on it and raise the pH at the probe algae interface. Also, it was winter and now is spring. Have you opened any windows ? Opening them will drive out the house CO2 and raise the pH.

pH 8.5 is about max.

 

[DonW]

8.4 / 8.5 but you will probably never see it become to high unless you do it yourself with chemicals. If you do see 8.5 or higher it will more likely be a test error.

Don

 

[mark peacock]

i have a pin point monitor and tested with a salifert test kit and got same result but funny thing is i have had my windows open over the last couple of days because of the weather being warm.
mark