Reading 7.5 PH with a Digital
- Thread starter mongaupt
- Start date
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mongaupt
http:///forum/post/3177304
Reading 7.5 PH with a Digital meter and with the powder it look higher. What does thelevels have to be at, I forgot my tank has been going for years. Louis
Perfect PH for saltwater fish should be 8.4...anything between 8.0 and that are fine and safe. 7.8 is perfect for freshwater fish..so 7.5 is low.
http:///forum/post/3177304
Reading 7.5 PH with a Digital meter and with the powder it look higher. What does thelevels have to be at, I forgot my tank has been going for years. Louis
Perfect PH for saltwater fish should be 8.4...anything between 8.0 and that are fine and safe. 7.8 is perfect for freshwater fish..so 7.5 is low.
J
jstdv8
Guest
Did you check your Alkalinity?
Alk and PH are tied together. You can fix Ph temporarily but are usually only masking the real problem.
Check this link. Ive found it very helpful.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php
Alk and PH are tied together. You can fix Ph temporarily but are usually only masking the real problem.
Check this link. Ive found it very helpful.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by louti
http:///forum/post/3177326
who says that 7.8 is perfect for freshwater? Most need 7.2, and some even lower.
It is a guide line figure found in most of my books. To be honest I never owned a test kit until I kept saltwater fish. Other than ammonia, freshwater fish are pretty hardy and can handle just about anything.
I did regular water changes, made sure my heaters worked properly, changed my canister filters each month, and made sure everything got along with each other.
Over 30 years and I never had a problem with anything except ich, and once hook worms with some goldfish I kept for my uncle, that was an adventure, but I saved the fish...
Oh yes, and a broken heater electrocuted most of my fish once. I started using those plastic sheaths after that.
http:///forum/post/3177326
who says that 7.8 is perfect for freshwater? Most need 7.2, and some even lower.
It is a guide line figure found in most of my books. To be honest I never owned a test kit until I kept saltwater fish. Other than ammonia, freshwater fish are pretty hardy and can handle just about anything.
I did regular water changes, made sure my heaters worked properly, changed my canister filters each month, and made sure everything got along with each other.
Over 30 years and I never had a problem with anything except ich, and once hook worms with some goldfish I kept for my uncle, that was an adventure, but I saved the fish...
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by mongaupt
http:///forum/post/3177304
Reading 7.5 PH with a Digital meter and with the powder it look higher. What does thelevels have to be at, I forgot my tank has been going for years. Louis
Have you calibrated the meter?
http:///forum/post/3177304
Reading 7.5 PH with a Digital meter and with the powder it look higher. What does thelevels have to be at, I forgot my tank has been going for years. Louis
Have you calibrated the meter?
saltwaterri
Member
thanks bangguy for the info. Im haveing a low ph problem for the last 4 weeks or so. I live in the north so we just started closing all th windows and I live in a new house. Can i throw an airpump and a line into my sump or should I run hose throw my live rock in main tank.
ophiura
Active Member
Definitely the first question is if and how the pH meter was calibrated.
I have, by the way, taken a pH reading in the ocean on a reef at 7.8. So "perfect" is relative.
STABLE is critical.
IMO, a stable pH with good alk and calcium readings can be anywhere from 7.8 to 8.4 in most cases. Fidgeting with pH can have very serious consequences.
When did you take the reading...you should always take two pH readings - first thing before lights on, and after lights have been on all day. pH readings should not be considered in a "vacuum" meaning without alkalinity or calcium readings.
7.5, if actual, is rather low but would be a greater concern if it is fluctuating or if that is the highest it gets. In established tanks with high nutrient load, pH can drop, and is certainly cause for concern.
So the main questions:
How did you calibrate
what is your alk and calcium
what are the two pH readings (with the meter and the test)
what kind of test kit (and how old)
I have, by the way, taken a pH reading in the ocean on a reef at 7.8. So "perfect" is relative.
STABLE is critical.
IMO, a stable pH with good alk and calcium readings can be anywhere from 7.8 to 8.4 in most cases. Fidgeting with pH can have very serious consequences.
When did you take the reading...you should always take two pH readings - first thing before lights on, and after lights have been on all day. pH readings should not be considered in a "vacuum" meaning without alkalinity or calcium readings.
7.5, if actual, is rather low but would be a greater concern if it is fluctuating or if that is the highest it gets. In established tanks with high nutrient load, pH can drop, and is certainly cause for concern.
So the main questions:
How did you calibrate
what is your alk and calcium
what are the two pH readings (with the meter and the test)
what kind of test kit (and how old)