What PH is too high?

[PrettyFishies]

I am having a hard time keeping my PH at 8.4. It's been as high as 8.7. I've been using a little acid buffer to slowly lower and I've been doing daily water changes to lower nitrates. I think the two are related. I have one PWC to go to get my nitrates below 10.

What us too high for PH and what am I aiming for?

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

What you're struggling with is probably best explained here...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php

Before anything though, make sure your pH readings are accurate - either by getting a couple different liquid test kits or getting a digital meter.

What salt mix are you using?

 

[Gti_Leo]

check your alkalinity, if you can't maintain your pH your alk could be off

anythign above 8.4 is to high and considered alkaline, anything below 8 is considered acidic

 

[PrettyFishies]

IO reef crystals.

I need an alkalinity test then. Don't have one yet.

 

[PrettyFishies]

Looks like a faulty probe. According to my API, it's only 7.8

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Yeah... if you're using Reef Crystals and getting a pH of anything over 8.4, I'd say that you're either using some type of additive that boosts pH or it's a faulty reading.

What probe are you using? Has it been calibrated recently? Electronic probes, even ones in constant use, should be recalibrated monthly.

 

[PrettyFishies]

Milwaukee. It's too old . Ordered a new probe.