Dan's 210 Build

Please start a new thread on reef discussion and link this thread in it. There is a reason that not many offered help, we didn't see that you needed it.

@ActiveAngel could possibly use some of his knowledge here.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
Sorry Dan I didn't know you we're looking for help either.

High pH is usually the result of dosing something that increases Alk. Have you calibrated your probe recently and can you post some graphs of it?
If you're using a co2 scrubber taking it offline with help too.

The fish shouldn't be dying from elevated pH unless it was a big jump and happened really fast. I've had mine spike over 8.5 with a kalk mishap and the fish were all fine. I'd think a spike to 8.75 or higher would be need to kill them. Sounds like a pathogen or parasite. Knowing you've got ich feeding the fish frozen mixed with Metro & Focus will give them relief from the parasite by killing those on & in them. It will not get rid of it for the system but once gone from the fish the vitamin enriched food your feeding will help them fight it off.

Another question is have you tested your ammonia? If it's even a little elevated with ich in the fish's gills it could be deadly.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the input guys. I will create a post tonight when I have a little time, referencing this one and try to summarize a bit. Two key points....my probes were reading low and I am running kalk. The probes shut the kalk doser off it it reaches 8.35. I am pretty sure the probe error in conjunction with chemicleann kalk, and scrubbing off the carbonate with air is what caused the initial ph spike, but I was having some issues before and since correcting the ph and it took too long for the ph to come back down. Thanks for picking up on this.
 
Pardon the delay, just got here. This is not a good week for me to set too much at time aside to dive into the details and figure this out , so I’ll do voice to text of my initial thoughts. Many were said in the last 5 to 10 responses. I apologize in advance for typos and lengthy response.

I would be cautious about doing too much, too quickly. And if doing massive water changes, naturally check the temperature and salinity thrice before executing.

High pH could be attributed to low CO2. So taking any scrubbers off-line is good advice. Or just look at your tank and breathe on it heavily. LOL JK. Similarly if you have any algae, you could take them out to try to help.

Also, did you say Chemiclean; as in the product you would use to kill off cyanobacteria? Perhaps the same company also makes other products. But if it is what I think it is; a side effect is rapidly decreased oxygen levels. I’m not sure what the exact compound is, but that could be affecting your pH.

I do think you made a good call with the large water change. Sometimes this action can bite us in the butt if our problem is our source water. But in all other instances, it can buy you a lot of time to figure out an I do think you made a good call with the large water change. Sometimes this action can bite us in the butt if our problem is our source water. But in all other instances, it can buy you a lot of time to identify the specific issue.

Unfortunately you have a lot of systems in place. And any one of them, or multiple, could be the issue. The best course is to do what you were already doing; and investigate them thoroughly one at a time. And Keep testing.

Hope this helps at least in the tiniest minuscule amount. I should be more available beginning this weekend.
 
Thanks, that does help. I was aerating before the Ph started spiking, so I am guessing I scrubbed the carbonate off, which made the Ph spike. As suggested, I made a new post here:

 
Things appear to be stabilizing. I took a few minutes to drill a 120 that was intended for a combo fuge and frag tank. It was super easy and I have no idea why waited so long! The holes are from my Reef Synergy templateS that are on my DT. Maybe I will pickup another one for this tank in the future.
20190831_113946.jpg
 
Things seem to have stabilized so I am returning to my build thread!

Here is my latest addition to my sump room! This takes up less space overall and will let me build a small office on the other side of my 240 peninsula. One of my Xr30's on my DT stopped working, so I swapped it with the one from my frag tank and went to the backup light. I will be sending the xr30 for service.

20190917_215408.jpg

I am still having high pH issues and have researched it a bit more to be comfortable letting my pH creep as high as 8.5. I am slowly setting my pH flag higher, which tells my vinegar doser to start.

Since I am now seeing the white strings of good bacteria growing on my glass, I am also slowly reducing the amount of vinegar dosed over time.
 
Just realized I am out of vinegar at the doser. Guess I will pick up another $2 jug tomorrow. Still lowering the vinegar dosing weekly. Everything looks great, except one of my softies that has been in decline for a few weeks. I may try to move it tomorrow. Everything else looks great!
 
Just realized I am out of vinegar at the doser. Guess I will pick up another $2 jug tomorrow. Still lowering the vinegar dosing weekly. Everything looks great, except one of my softies that has been in decline for a few weeks. I may try to move it tomorrow. Everything else looks great!
Man I'm so happy for you that things are turning around.
 
Hey man that's for the update. How's the tank going? From the pics looks like it's doing good.
 
The tank is doing great! My only concern is that the vinegar dosing is still excessive to keep the pH down - causing huge bacteria strings growing throughout my system. No problems as o yet though.
 
The tank is doing great! My only concern is that the vinegar dosing is still excessive to keep the pH down - causing huge bacteria strings growing throughout my system. No problems as o yet though.
I'm happy to hear that it's doing great. And good job of sticking with it.
 
Man I only wish I had ph problem :) I can barely keep it above 8.09. Even with co2 scrubber. I wonder if your ph prob maybe acting up on you?
 
Back
Top