What's the pH in your reef..?

[BEAU_RN]

Hi,

I know that the usual goal for pH in home reef tanks are between 8.1 to 8.3, but what I'm wondering is how high people have successfully kept their reef pH's at. My pH generally runs between 8.22 to 8.35 or so, but lately it's been around 8.39 to 8.43 on average for nights and days. The tank's primary additive is kalkwasser since fall 2012 in addition to other major/trace elements as needed. Between the fish and corals (SPS/LPS mainly) all the livestock in the tank are doing great. So I wanna just keep an eye and see what happens since the increase didn't happen drastically in days but more like a few months. I have a pH probe & also a pH pen that's both freshly recalibrated and they both essentially show the same results. Hoping to get some insight on fellow reefers thoughts and experiences.

Current parameters
Mg - 1400ppm
KH - 9.8 dKH
Ca - 450ppm
SG - 1.024
Temp - 78.7F
pH - 8.41

Thanks in advance,
Fred eace:

 

[NanaReefer]

Almost 5yrs reefing and I can count on 2 hands how many times I've actually tested my PH. Not a number I really worry about.


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

 

[mfinn]

Not a test I do either.
Never have tested the ph in my 240 and only tested the ph in my 50 twice in 2 years.
Both times it was 8.0

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I'm with them, I tested my ph after cycling, then again two years later, I haven't tested since then

Sent from my HTC Vivid using Tapatalk 2

 

[reefman069]

i just got a apex neptune controller. it reads my ph every day all day long. pretty cool. it even logs it every 10 minutes. right now my ph reads 8.21. my main lights are off right now. sump lights on. when my main lights turn on my ph will jump back to 8.3.

 

[BEAU_RN]

i just got a apex neptune controller. it reads my ph every day all day long. pretty cool. it even logs it every 10 minutes. right now my ph reads 8.21. my main lights are off right now. sump lights on. when my main lights turn on my ph will jump back to 8.3.

Well... I don't really test my pH other than what my AC jr controller pH shows, but simply curious. Thanks tho guys!

 

[mfinn]

I suppose if I did have a controller, I would check it out, pay attention to it.

 

[NC2WA]

Mine is between 8.1-8.25.

I have a RKE that gives me a reading, but I also have a pH Pinpoint monitor that I use for redundancy.

 

[trido]

Well... I don't really test my pH other than what my AC jr controller pH shows, but simply curious. Thanks tho guys!

When was the last time you calibrated your probe? IMO the older Neptune's are notorious for straying from true readings after about six months or so.

Also, I was just reading something about probes only having a life expectancy of 2-3 years.

My AC III has been reading 7.3- 7.5 all year and I really know that's not the case. My corals hare happy and as long as I don't come home to the tank looking bad and the probe reading something way different I know that my Ph is normal. Last night I cross reference with my Milwaukee probe and I know normal is about 8.1 give or take.

 

[NC2WA]

+1 what Duane said.

I calibrated my temp probe to my RKE every 4-6 months, and my pinpoint probe every 1-2 months..

 

[BEAU_RN]

Mine is between 8.1-8.25.

I have a RKE that gives me a reading, but I also have a pH Pinpoint monitor that I use for redundancy.

Agreed!!! I do the same thing :high5: Redundancy is key lol

 

[BEAU_RN]

When was the last time you calibrated your probe? IMO the older Neptune's are notorious for straying from true readings after about six months or so.

Also, I was just reading something about probes only having a life expectancy of 2-3 years.

My AC III has been reading 7.3- 7.5 all year and I really know that's not the case. My corals hare happy and as long as I don't come home to the tank looking bad and the probe reading something way different I know that my Ph is normal. Last night I cross reference with my Milwaukee probe and I know normal is about 8.1 give or take.

+1 what Duane said.

I calibrated my temp probe to my RKE every 4-6 months, and my pinpoint probe every 1-2 months..

I plan on doing exactly that guys. I did recalibrate the AC jr pH probe twice prior to use and my pH pen was freshly recalibrated to compare and both showing similar results. I'll just let it ride since all is well inside the tank and numbers are just numbers, but livestock health & happiness show even more about tank stability.

 

[Boomer]

Your issue Beau is you kept letting your pH climb with that Calcium and Alk you will come home some day and see a snow storm in your tank. You are already at a Ω 6, which means you more likely could get abiotic precipitation.