Reef Chemistry - Sudden PH Spike!

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Sudden PH Spike!

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69439
Printed Date: November 27 2025 at 3:34am
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Topic: Sudden PH Spike!

Posted By: troyholl
Subject: Sudden PH Spike!
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 5:47pm

After 2 years of my PH ranging very nicely from 8.2 to 8.4 starting late last night I'm having a spike that has reached 8.83!

Two questions.... how dangerous is this level....

and What might make it spike. All other parameters are fine and I can't detect anything wrong. I dose but have it turned off now and have for a month.

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Troy Hollingsworth
Riverton, Utah

270 Gallon "Custom" Tank

Replies:

Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 5:52pm

Are you measuring Ph with a Ph probe? How old is it? Could have gone bad if everything else is ok and nothing has changed with the tank.

Posted By: bmac2
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 5:52pm

the first thing I would do is to grab some calibration fluid, a 7 and a 10 packet from whatever LFS is the closest and recalibrate your probes. A weird change in a monitored parameter without any physical change to the tank reeks of a probe going bad, or out of calibration. if it reads the two calbration fluid right, and you still have a spike, I would probably take it to someone else around yhou that has a probe and take a jar of water to them and see what their probe reads. IF it really did spike, there has to be something causing it. But i would confirm all reading before acting on it.

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Aquarium Creations 300 gallon tank
Stand by Dion

Posted By: troyholl
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 5:59pm

LOL... BMAC2.... thats a pretty no-brainer of a suggestion.. thanks! I have calibration fluid so off I go to check the probe!

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Troy Hollingsworth
Riverton, Utah

270 Gallon "Custom" Tank

Posted By: troyholl
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 6:25pm

Well.... the probe just needed a good clean. The end somehow got stuffed bull of junk. I normally clean it every 3 months.... but apparently it was in dire need now. Thanks BMAC2.... good call!

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Troy Hollingsworth
Riverton, Utah

270 Gallon "Custom" Tank

Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 6:35pm

Lol looks like me and bmac posted at the exact same time. What are the odds? Glad you got it figured out.

Posted By: bmac2
Date Posted: February 03 2014 at 6:41pm

excellent. the probes for ORP and for pH both are pretty damn touchy, I don't care what brand or how much you spend on them. They get dirty just a little bit and go nuts.

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Aquarium Creations 300 gallon tank
Stand by Dion