8.6 PH!!

dindi

Member
My PH is 8.6! The alkalinity is on the low side. Even with water changes it won't drop. I have 1 polyp rock and it looks a little sraggly. The fish look happy. What do you suggest?
 

fshhub

Active Member
another test kit, or take a smple to your lfs and have them test it
another thing, how do you clean your tester?? just rinse it, that is all, and (if you don't know this) never use your finger as a cap for the tester and never touch the dropper tip on the reagent bottle, your body oils can contaminate your equipment, enough to give you false readings, but if your alk is low, your ph shouldn't be high(shouldn't), so i would test both with another source, to make sure it isn't the testeer and to find out which one
what type of tester are you using???
 

dindi

Member
I use the Red Sea Marine Mini Lab test kit. i always rinse the tube in the water to be tested first. I use the cap which is rinsed as well. My 10 gal rx tank also has the same PH. Now you know why I'm a little confused. Maybe it is the test kit. could it be the salt mixure? I use Instant Ocean. i just did a 25% water change 3 days ago and last night I tested my water and the PH was 8.6. Everything else is premo. Is this considered too high? I use a reverse osmosis type water filter to filter the tap water. Should I check the water from that source? I thought the salt mixure was balanced with proper PH and buffer
 

fshhub

Active Member
that is high, and your RO should be ok, but it cannot hurt to check it, but i still htink you shoud check your test kit, reagents do go bad, and not always when the exp. date says
i doubt it is the instant ocean, but it could always be a bad batch(i guess), however i really don't think that is it
HTH
 

whipple

Member
I use IO salt and my ph is 8.2 so i dont think its your salt also i hardly ever have to use a buffer.
 

dindi

Member
Maybe you all are right, I'll buy a new test kit,at least the PH one and recheck. I'm getting ready to buy a mandarin goby and I want all to be well. I have a very peaceful tank so it should be happy when I get my PH under control. Right now I have a coral beauty, 3 fire fish and a royal gramma. By the way, do you the coral beauty and the royal gramma will be OK with a mandarin? Before you ask I have a 75 gal
 

dathem

Member
Hello,
Yes the Coral Beauty and Royal Gramma should be ok with a mandarin. I had all 3 in a 55 and they never bother each other.
 
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