My Ph Is Way Too High...

[donny7]

Tank is cycling (10g nano), took all my inverts back to the LFS as I truly see the cruelty of having them in the tank with the levels like this!

11lbs of live rock
10lbs of marine sand
160gph powerhead
20g filter running carbon

Okay, my levels are...

Ammonia .25PPM
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 8.8!!!

I used tap water to do the water change, typically I buy premade saltwater, figured I'd use the tap this time though. I changed 50 percent to keep my inverts alive as they weren't doing to good. PH out of the tap is well over 8.5 anyway. I'm using Petco premium marine salt because it's cheap.

What can I do about this crazy-high PH? Will it kill clownfish, or gobies, the main fish I want to keep?

 

[woody88]

DO NOT use tap water unless you know exactly what's in it or more importantly what shouldn't be in it.
That's the reason why your ph is high.
Use plain RO water with a good pro reef salt mix and that should bring your ph down to acceptable levels.
If you can't get plain RO water then you might need to consider buying an RO unit.

 

[donny7]

I've heard but some people can't afford RO units I'm considering buying RO water by the gallon when I get paid this week, but IDK. I know a lot of people who have had success with corals and delicate inverts with tap.

#41#### you arizona D:

 

[Noahs ark6]

use ph down and never use tap water

 

[woody88]

I've heard but some people can't afford RO units I'm considering buying RO water by the gallon when I get paid this week, but IDK. I know a lot of people who have had success with corals and delicate inverts with tap.

#41#### you arizona D:

I'm sure your tap water is probably better than ours but a ph of 8.5 or above isn't going to help a marine tank.
If you can get hold of plain RO then it's all good but also I'd recommend a good pro reef salt brand and not petco's own. I can imagine it being really crap! Lol

 

[donny7]

Just tested my water after last nights PWC change, I had my powerhead running air bubbles all night, it came down to 8.2.

What could've brought it down?

 

[Noahs ark6]

you say your tank is cycling, if its cycling why do you have clownfish in there!

 

[woody88]

Not sure on that one to be honest it could possibly have been caused by surface agitation or it could be down to the salt you using.
What test kit did you use to test the ph as that could be inaccurate if it's past it's date.

Either way 8.2 is perfect in my eyes as it's the same as mine! Lol

you say your tank is cycling, if its cycling why do you have clownfish in there!

That was my next question! Especially inverts as they're more sensitive!

 

[donny7]

I'm using the API Master saltwater kit.


And No I don't have clownfish. I want to keep clownfish.

The inverts hitchhiked on my LR.

 

[seffieuk]

PH rises and falls throughout the day

PH should be around 8.0 to 8.6
pH rises during the day and falls at night as dissolved oxygen levels rise. Open windows also make a difference



Seffie x