pH question (1 Viewer)

[tmgrash]

Anyone have any clue why from one day to the next my pH would change with no change to the system, no WC, nothing was done? My pH used to swing from ~8.05 to ~8.35 during a 24 hour period. Now, without gradual change it happened from one day to the next, it swings from ~8.30 to ~8.49.

Any ideas?

I checked my probe to the calibration fluid and it is right on.

 

[crvz]

you got the windows open more often? any other way more fresh air getting towards the system?

 

[RocketSurgeon]

This may be far fetched, but I've read where it is best to test probes at two known levels. This better ensures the probe is working correctly. I've read where someone tested their probe at only one known value and it was always " right on ", but when the value changed, the probe was off. I'm on my phone, but I may have the post bookmarked on the computer.

Also, as previously stated, it may not b a change in the tank directly. If I leAve my ceiling fan on over night, my tank temp drops.

 

[Ostentum]

Most of the time swings like that are due to change in the CO2 in the air. Higher concentrations of the CO2 in the air will be injected into your system via your protein skimmer causing your ph to drop. But yeah like posted above, Make sure you calibrate with 10 and 7 ph fluids and should recalibrate about every 6 months or so.

 

[tmgrash]

you got the windows open more often? any other way more fresh air getting towards the system?

Enter Murphy. I left town 4am on fri., and noticed the huge change fri afternoon on my apex app. So no extra windows or such were opened.

Now that I wrote that, do you think human activity (breathing, exhailing CO2) could affect my tanks pH?

 

[tmgrash]

This may be far fetched, but I've read where it is best to test probes at two known levels. This better ensures the probe is working correctly. I've read where someone tested their probe at only one known value and it was always " right on ", but when the value changed, the probe was off. I'm on my phone, but I may have the post bookmarked on the computer.

Also, as previously stated, it may not b a change in the tank directly. If I leAve my ceiling fan on over night, my tank temp drops.

You are correct, and I did test to both 10.0 and 7.0. 7.0 was off a small bit, but the test kits are know to "drift" over time.

 

[AquaNerd]

pH will change based on a ton of different things...

if the house was a little warmer, the pH could change
if the a/c was off, the pH could change
if the cat farted too close to the aquarium, the pH could change

there's a ton of different reasons and fluctuation should be expected.

 

[lesd]

Travis,

I'm not sure if human activity can account for the difference in your readings, but it definitely can affect tank pH. Back when I lived in a small apartment, I remember having a gathering over at my place with 10-15 people hanging out. After everyone left, I checked the tank pH and it had cratered. I seem to remember it being around 7.2. I opened a bunch of windows (in the middle of winter) and the pH came back up quickly.

In a larger house, I doubt you would see such a large swing.

-- Les

 

[tmgrash]

pH will change based on a ton of different things...

if the house was a little warmer, the pH could change
if the a/c was off, the pH could change
if the cat farted too close to the aquarium, the pH could change

there's a ton of different reasons and fluctuation should be expected.

Thanks! Has to be the cat fart :bones: he is pretty smelly.

Wasnt too worried, but it has been pretty steady for awhile. But, 8.49 seems a bit on the high side

 

[tmgrash]

Travis,

I'm not sure if human activity can account for the difference in your readings, but it definitely can affect tank pH. Back when I lived in a small apartment, I remember having a gathering over at my place with 10-15 people hanging out. After everyone left, I checked the tank pH and it had cratered. I seem to remember it being around 7.2. I opened a bunch of windows (in the middle of winter) and the pH came back up quickly.

In a larger house, I doubt you would see such a large swing.

-- Les

Hmm that might be the reason then. I dont think an average of .10 is a large swing. I dont think my house is on the small side but three people left and it was sealed up without the 5 yr old running in and out throughout the day (hmm thatd raise pH though).

 

[RocketSurgeon]

Although we do want to measure and track ph and nitrates, I have focused more attention to alk and phosphates.

We know all the pages have to come together to create the book.

This may be one of those times a few chapters later, you look back and realize exactly what happened.

 

[tmgrash]

Well part of the mystery is solved. Have been back for a full day and pH readings are back to where normal has been. So, having people in the house (2 adults and a child) apparently will drop your pH in the tank. I would have assumed the opposite, when we are here doors and windows and such are being opened letting O2 into the house. I wouldnt havve thought we exhailed enough CO2 to affect pH and counter act the amount of O2 coming in through doors and such.

 

[crvz]

in newer construction, where large emphasis is put on insulation and air-tightness, CO2 levels can climb very quickly. I've read that indoor readings can reach levels nearly 10 times that of outdoor levels in newer construction. Still nothing to be concerned about for your health (it would have to be 30 times that of nominal outdoor levels to be a concern, and near 100 times to suffer long term affects), but this will have obvious affects on your aquarium.