High pH 8.78

[eldiente]

I just installed my aquacontoller III and it says my pH is 8.79. One test kit reads around 8.2 and the other that I have is 8.4. The pH probe is suppossed to be calibrated at the factory but I think I need to re-calibrate it to make sure the reading is right. Have others had a problem with their probes being off and where should I look to get the 7.0 and 10.0 test solutions to calibrate it. thanks also if my pH is really that high should I be concerned and how do you lower it in a 250 Gallon system? thanks

[Reptoreef]

Definitely calibrate... yes, get a 7 and a 10 to calibrate with. Your tank would be nuked at that point if it were true.

[melev]

You can buy those solutions from any e-tailer.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_searchItem.aspx?IdCategory=&SearchText=pH%20calibration%20solution

[Whoyah]

Old batteries will also effect the reading. You might start there first.

[greg97527]

u could use super buffer dkh by kent marine which will buffer down the ph. i didn't touch on the whole calibrate thing cause everyone else already got it. ;)

[eldiente]

Thanks I ordered some off of marine depot and i'll see what it really is. The unit plugs into the wall so batteries aren't an issue. You'd think they would ship it with some stuff to calibrate it with as I'm sure the package was jostled around in shipping. Oh well, I'll wait a few days and see, thanks for the info

[melev]

Don't do anything until you know for a fact what the pH actually is. Have your LFS test a water sample as well.

[eldiente]

My LFS doesnt' test water and I only have one in town, but I will calibrate it and see what it says first, thanks for the info.

[melev]

Got a hobbyist in your area that can test it with their kit or probe? It is just good to get a second opinion before you do anything to your tank. And look at the livestock, as that is more important than the numbers anyway.

All I'm saying is don't over-react. :)

[Reptoreef]

I am totally with Mark... let the tank tell you what is best!

[eldiente]

The tank does look ok and I've not lost anything lately. Graphixx, do you have a ph probe or good test kit to double check mine?

I do have a lot slime floating in my refugium that appears to be coming from the caluerpa, which is still growing well with 24/7 lights, but there is hair algae growing on the chaeto/caluerpa and I think while the caluerpa is growing that part of it is dying and giving fuel to the hair algae? My refugium has been quite warm because it is in the basement, the return water cools down a bit before it re-enters the tank. In order to keep my show tank at 78 degrees, I have to keep the refugium at 83 degrees, well I lowered the refugium temp to 80 degrees today and so my tank will drop to about 74-75 degrees. I think that should be a better option, any opinions? Also does anyone have any experience with a neptune aquacontroller expansion box for the show tank to run a second temp probe and to control a heater in the show tank. I hate to put a heater in there but I would like to run the two tanks at a closer temp to each other. Will that idea work, I don't have too much knowledge yet on the aquacontroller

[Whoyah]

I am little unclear on how you can get such huge differance in temperature between the show tank and the refugium. Can you explain more why this? My first thught would be to increase the flow through the refugium so that the water temperture would be closer to the display. You may also consider changing over to chaeto for the macro in your refuge. I can can send you some if you would like, just PM me.

[eldiente]

My refugium is in the basement about 25 ft to the side of the main tank, so by the time I run my lines to and from it is 30 ft in length that runs close to an outside wall. it was the only way I could do it. My tank sits above my fireplace and so I had to locate the refugium downstairs, which is what I wanted as it is in its own room and I can access it really easily. In the summer it works great because the 30 ft works as a cheap chiller and cools the water down in the main tank, but in the winter I have to keep the refugium warmer to help keep the main tank warmer. As for my return pumps I have two Rio 32HF. I know they are terrible pumps, but they do ok. that being said I have contemplated changing them out. If I had known better I would have had the refugium drilled before I set it up, but I didn't know better. so now I need to use in tank pumps to move the water up 10' head. Any suggestions?

I have chaeto in the refugium, its just the grape caleurpa grows much quicker for me, I occasionaly pull out a little of the caluerpa but leave the chaeto alone. I have never been able to grow alot of macro and today my new lights arrived that mark, melev, recommends on his site, so I'll see how that goes. thanks for the help.

[Whoyah]

Oh, I get it. I am guessing, you have the heater in the refugium then. Have you tried insulating the pipes during the winter to conserve heat? You could use those foam pipe wraps and just pop them off during the warmer months. You might also consider putting a small heater in the display to help balance it out. I have one of these and there pretty robust. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3743+12060&pcatid=12060

[eldiente]

Wrapping the pipes would be a great idea, unfortunately they are enclosed in the ceiling and it is a finished basement, the wife didn't want anything showing. It will be a pain when I have to change them out in a few years, but I need a challenge once in a while. I think I will try the heater in the main tank. thanks

[slim]

Brian,

Here is what I use on my sump for lighting.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/pickensw/31M8Lg6P2BzL__AA280_.jpg

It's a 120 watt BR40 Standard Base Spot-Gro Flood Incandescent Sylvania Light Bulb. Lowe's carries them and I use a portable shop light fixture like we talked about. I need to thin my macro again soon. I use a reverse lighting system for my tank. When my display lighting is on the sump is off and then when the display goes off the sump lights.

Will

[eldiente]

Thanks Will, I run my sump lights 24/7 because I have read that it helps to keep the caluerpa from dying off and going asexual. Usually I run them reverse daylight also. Do you have a problem with slime in your refugium from your grape caluerpa?

[slim]

no...everything has been fine....hope it stays that way!

[eldiente]

Ok so I got the AC III calibrated and now it says my pH is 8.04-8.08. Do I need to raise it and how should I accomplish that. Right now I dose with the SeaChem Calcium and Alkalinity (reef buffer) and Magnesium. Last checked numbers (last thursday) Calc 400, Alk 9.9, Mag 1325. Sal 1.024. Thanks

[Reptoreef]

If everything looks good... and is stable, leave it as is. As the old rule states," if it isn't broken don't fix it"...

[eldiente]

Well while I was down in slc I got some tangs, the yellow and purple look good but the Naso looks like he's stressed, it even looks like his eye is bulging a bit? So I thought maybe I should slowly raise the pH a little.

[Reptoreef]

Naw... stress happens... if it is a bulging eye, it may be "popeye"... a common stress reaction in stressed or new fish. If you try to accomidate the tang, you run the chance of stressing everything else.

[melev]

That range is fine. 7.9 to 8.3 is pretty much the target zone.

[eldiente]

Thanks, I'm always a nervous wreck with new fish!

[Whoyah]

I also have a electronic pH probe and notice that my pH shifts slightly over the course of the day. No big deal, just something to be aware of. You may also consider going to a DIY recipe for you alk/cal. I have used this recipe for a 2+ plus years with very good results. It is a heck of alot cheaper then pre-made 2 part.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[eldiente]

I have contemplated using this recipe many times and I guess I was always just worried about the other stuff that would build up with time, plus I figured they were less likely to be the same makeup all of the time and I just didn't want to chance it. I know the aquarium made stuff can differ from batch to batch also, I guess its just easier to buy the pre made stuff. But maybe I will give it a try. thanks

[Whoyah]

I understand your concerns. Based on everything I have read and experienced there really doesn't seem to be any long term ill effects. It boils down to $$ for me. I was spending about $30 a month for the pre-made stuff. It probably costs me about 50 cents a month using the DIY recipe. It does take about 30 minutes once a month to make batch but thats about it.