PH spike...

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Semo

New Member
Hey,
I'm still struggling with some of the basics. I have been checking my PH with a hand held meter every day since my tanks only been up for a little over a month. Pretty quick check with that thing.

Anyway, my ph has been running from 8.15 to 8.35 for about 2 weeks...I check it in the morning before I leave for work..lights off and at night about the time they cut off. 8.15 has been a steady low for the most part, but last night high spiked to 8.5 and tonight its 8.65....

I have a mix that I keep ready, but I am having to wait for it to get to temperature before doing a water change.

Just thought I would ask what would cause that spike. :anxious
 
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sadielynn

New Member
The ph(power of hydrogen ) can be caused to swing because of lighting or lack of oxygen exchange before dosing open up the lid and open a window and see if that helps with the swings or add a bubbler for 24 hours and see if that helps steady it ....also how are you prepping your water
http://www.johnkyrk.com/pH.html :mrgreen:
 
S

Semo

New Member
Thanks,
I have been using the kent marine nano reef buffer part A and B. It seems to really keep it in check except for the recent spike. About my water, I just use RO water and instant ocean salt by putting 5 gallons of water in a bucket and adding the salt. I upgraded the pump in my nano cube so I just toss the stock pump in the bucket and let it run a couple days.

The ph has been great since my water change, but I would still like to know what would cause such a thing. My alkalinity is a little low at 2.3 meq/l. Thats probably the fix...get the alkalinity better..
 
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sadielynn

New Member
airate the water for 24 hours before adding the salt and another 24 after adding that ay help with the other stuff that is out of wack :mrgreen:
 
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lgreen

New Member
Check your calcium level too.

Nano part A = Calcium (acid, reduces pH)
Nano part B = Carbonate (base, buffers and raises pH)

Calcium and carbonate are proportional too, so if calcium dropped, alk could have dropped too.

If you pH spiked high, your alk shouldn't have been low...

Anything die or ammonia spike?

The only thing I can think of is major death or if you over did it a bit on your alk dose.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Are you certain your hand held pH meter is accurate? They should be calibrated every month or so and the probe should not be allowed to dry out. Might want to do a second test with a test kit to verify the readings you are getting are correct.
 
S

Semo

New Member
First off, thanks for the input...even more things for me to check. Maybe new test kits are in order.

I have not read any hint of ammonia in over 4 weeks, almost the same time frame with nitrite, so I am sure the cycle is complete. Nitrate is sitting at 0-5 (in between those on color chart)

It is kind of freaky that the calcium is low but ph spiked up. After my water change the low has been 8.21 and high 8.36. Thas perfect range.

I will take some readings before and after I do the nano reef dosing. I have been taking my alk and calcium readings only before I dose. I should do both to see how it affects it.

As far as deaths go, I haven't noticed any deaths. I thought my tank cycled pretty quick, so I started adding slowly. I added a scarlet red legged hermit, which has molted twice since I put it in, once right after that Ph spike. I now have 6 blue legg hermits, 2 small nassarious snails and one skunk cleaner. The hermits have been molting like crazy and all 6 are still accounted for. 3 of them have changed shells. My skunk cleaner seems really happy and has molted once and has only been in the tank for 1.5 weeks. This ph spike happened 5 days after adding the skunk. Could that have any affect?

Only 1 small frogspawn coral been in there little over 2 weeks.
 
S

Semo

New Member
Oh yeah, some purple and pink mushrooms that came with the live rock when I first started the tank. And one fire bristle I am gonna have to get rid of. I just noticed it couple days ago and still slack on doing something about it...its a small one but its definately a red one.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
You have a free detritus feeder there, in that bristle worm. They are actually beneficial in that they help keep the sand stirred up and feed on stuff that you want to take out of your tank. Some people actually buy those to put into their tanks. They get a bad rap because they ain't pretty. :eek:) Unless your system is just overloaded with them and their appearance becomes bothersome to you, I would leave it in there. I have had them for years and never noticed them as being particularly hazardous to corals.
 
S

Semo

New Member
PiratesReef,
I have been using the PH metter for about 3 weeks without a cal, but I do check aginst test tube ph test. They are close..well as close as I can tell with the chart. Re-Cal is definately a good idea.

Another question....about all the molting...Is this a good sign? Do these things molt this often?
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Semo,

As long as you cross check it from time to time. Sometimes we forget that some of this test equipment we depend on is only reliable if it is calibarated and tested occasionally to make sure they are accurate.

I have a Hanna pHEP-5 handheld and try to keep some test solutions on hand to check/calibrate it every now and then. It does drift off mark if left alone. It is also best to get some Electrode Storage Solution (its cheap) and keep a small piece of sponge dampened with the solution inside the meter's cap to keep the tip from drying out. A tip while on the subject of handheld meters that I found out from the local Grainger outlet. If the electrode does dry out completely, you can try to bring it back by soaking overnight in a pH 7.0 solution.

To me, I would think the molting is a sign that your critters are doing well and growing. The molt as they grow. Crabs molting can be a strange thing. Years ago, I had a large brown spotted crab (he was big - like 2" across) and one morning I found his shell completely intact (except hollow) on the bottom of the tank. At the time, I thought it was dead. I still have the molted shell from about 15 years ago. All of his legs have since dried up and fell off. :)

 
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Anonymous

Guest
EDGRAY said:
that a nice crab shell... wait is called brown spotted crab???? never seen one :shock:
Click to expand...
Well, that's what I called it. :) I really don't know what kind of crab it was. I can tell you that it is definitely not "reef friendly." This crab was in a 200 gallon FO tank that I had years ago. His favorite meal was the seafood buffet. He would eat anything that he could get his claws on. If you see one at the LFS - RUN!!
 
S

Semo

New Member
Its freaky how they can totally get out of the old shell without doing any damage at all!!

Cool pic for sure..cool crab as well.
 
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