pH Dropping... any thoughts?

[elfloyd]

Apex just alerted me my pH is dropping... 8.10 at 3:00 to 7.67 at 9:00 pm. I've not touched the tank at all today, return pump, skimmer, and power heads are all working fine. Can't take other water quality measurements now. Two probes, both showing the decrease. Any suggestions?

http://www.reeftronics.net/members/larryh/paramgraph.php?param=PH&period=DAY" alt="" />

[IMG]http://www.reeftronics.net/members/larryh/paramgraph.php?param=PH2&period=DAY">http://www.reeftronics.net/members/larryh/paramgraph.php?param=PH2&period=DAY</a>

 

[elfloyd]

Not running ca reactor... (already have a story about a ca reactor crashing the tank). A lot of cooking going on today and a lot of people in the house. Maybe the air quality in the house is poor... I opened a window in the tank room... Will continue to monitor.

 

[landonl]

Test with a chemical test kit to be sure. Increased CO2 concentrations in the water will lower pH, so you are correct that opening a window may help.

Check calcium and alkalinity levels. Where are they at?

 

[jonathan]

Tell all your guests to go home (or crack a window) and your PH will normalize.

 

[jonathan]

You could run your skimmers airline to pull outside air when you have visitors.

 

[elfloyd]

Yeah... I opened a window and the change was immediate. 7.63 to 8.09 in about an hour. Surprising who sensitive our tanks are.

 

[acroholic]

You might consider one of those CO2 scrubbers. They will raise the pH of your tank by removing the CO2 from the air your skimmer will introduce.

DIY from the ARC:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48656&highlight=scrubber">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48656&highlight=scrubber</a>

For sale unit:

[IMG]http://glassbox-design.com/2009/soda-lime-co2-scrubbers-mcu-research/">http://glassbox-design.com/2009/soda-lime-co2-scrubbers-mcu-research/</a>