To my horror I recently discovered that my pH probe had slowly drifted high by 0.5 pH. I have an Apex with a single junction BRS probe. I recalibrated the probe but now I'm stumped that my pH daily range is 7.8 to 8.0 instead of the target 8.1 to 8.3 that I thought I was maintaining. I run alkalinity around 9.0. Calcium around 450. Magnesium around 1500. I use BRS 2 part. I also run a skimmer with dryer skimmate.
Nothing in my house has changed that I know of. No new pets. No new occupants. No new changes in who works from home or not. I do not have a gas furnace.
I've been struggling for months with zoa deaths and poor polyp extension from my SPS. In the last month the zoas that have survived are doing better but still don't have healthy polyp extension. It would be great (and crappy for that matter) if one of my biggest problems was indeed low pH when I didn't know it.
But here's my problem. Why is my pH now averaging 7.9 instead of 8.2 with no changes in CO2 contributors? What else besides elevated CO2 would keep my pH on the lower side assuming a stable alkalinity of 8.5 to 9.0?
Nothing in my house has changed that I know of. No new pets. No new occupants. No new changes in who works from home or not. I do not have a gas furnace.
I've been struggling for months with zoa deaths and poor polyp extension from my SPS. In the last month the zoas that have survived are doing better but still don't have healthy polyp extension. It would be great (and crappy for that matter) if one of my biggest problems was indeed low pH when I didn't know it.
But here's my problem. Why is my pH now averaging 7.9 instead of 8.2 with no changes in CO2 contributors? What else besides elevated CO2 would keep my pH on the lower side assuming a stable alkalinity of 8.5 to 9.0?