Ph swings in a 24 hour period

[kjdeut]

Since getting my Jr controller with the Ph probe I have been watching my Ph reading. I know there are swings in your Ph from when your lights are on and when they are off but is a swing from 7.9-8.3 normal? This seems to be a large variation and was was wondering what others see.

Ken

[redwinger]

You might want to drip some kalk at night to keep it up. I have personally had swings like that and never had a problem. Right know I see a swing of about 7.85-8.19 and everything is fine.

[Cylenchar]

yeah, the swings are normal... hwt you can do if you have a refugium with lights, is run them on alternate cycles to minimize the swings....

[darasy]

i have mines on a reverse cycle and i still get swings... from 7.7 at night to 8.2 during the day but also im still trying to figure out my calcium reactor :/

[Cylenchar]

Originally Posted by darasy

i have mines on a reverse cycle and i still get swings... from 7.7 at night to 8.2 during the day but also im still trying to figure out my calcium reactor :/

Do you know what the swings would be if you didn't have them on a reverse cycle?

[darasy]

i dunno i got a ph probe when i bought the CalRX and i already had my sump set up as a reverse cycle so i never felt inclined to run experiments hmmm maybe i will tomorrow

[Cylenchar]

I'd be interested to see how big a differnce there actually is........ I'd think to eliminate any swings, the two tanks would have to be the same size with the same lighting.....

[kjdeut]

Originally Posted by Cylenchar

I'd be interested to see how big a differnce there actually is........ I'd think to eliminate any swings, the two tanks would have to be the same size with the same lighting.....

I may test this also becuase my sump lights are on a reverse cycle from the main lights, but we are talking 72w PC over the sump vs 2x250 MH on the tank.
I knew people were seeing swings but I wasnt sure how big of a swing they are seeing. Sounds like my tank is pretty much in line with what others are experiencing.


Thanks for the replys everyone
Ken

[dirk griffin]

those kinds of swings are not that uncommon. Like John said dripping kalk at night will help. Using a reverse photo period refugium would work too.

[kjdeut]

Thanks Dirk, Im just going to leave it as it is since I havent been having any problems. This is one of the draws backs to getting the different monitors. "Micro monitoring " and worrying about things I wouldnt normally worry about on a day to day basis because now I can continually see the Ph level.
Before the controller I would test PH maybe once a month. I usually go by how the tank looks and if it isnt looking right I will then test to see if there is anything wrong. As long as i know my readings are not way out of line and the tankislooking good I'm happy.

Ken