Im New, :) and a question, PH Controller

thejollyroger · 12/03/2018, 02:39 PM

Hello I was given a Reef Fanatic PH Controller by a neighbor its probe needed to be replaced and I have ordered this. I wanted to try and use this in a Unusual way. I have a Jebao? Dosing pump that I use for ALK\CALC.

I wonder as I cant really find anything on my thought, this alone maybe an answer to my question

If the PH Controller can be setup to turn On\Off this dosing pump to keep the PH around 8.1 to 8.4 to help keep things from getting out of whack?

The basics are the dosing pump has a 24 hours dosing option I have all hours set to dose 1ml. so one hour it gets 1ml of Calc, and the next hour 1ml of Alk and so on.

The PH Controller is a Reef Fanatic model using a Lab Quality PH Probe you can set the range after calibration to stay within the above mentioned range and an electrical socket that you plug a device in to that in turn turns it ON\OFF to stay in range.

Has anyone tried this? I would guess I cant be the only one to wonder.

Thank You for any help, confirmation or advice.

homer1475 · 12/03/2018, 02:45 PM

Ph in a reef tank inside a house is what it will be. The amount of carbon dioxide in the house is what will determine your PH. Anything in the range of 7.6 to 8.4 is completely acceptable.

Dosing anything besides kalk to increase your PH will end up very bad for your tank.

mcgyvr · 12/03/2018, 02:56 PM

I think you just wasted money on a new PH probe

Its a far better choice to monitor alk when dosing than to monitor ph when doing so..

Many people that attempt to use products like ph buffer,etc... wonder whats happening to their tank only to find out that the use of that has caused their alk to skyrocket above recommended ranges..
The same will happen if you monitor ph and use regular alk liquid..

As the Beatles say.. "Let it Be.. Let it be.. let it be..let it be.. You shouldn't worry about that PH.... Let it be"......

thejollyroger · 12/03/2018, 04:37 PM

Oh,,, Ok, yep I think I have been schooled

So, when you use a PH Controller like in a Calcium reactor, how is it able to accurately control these if the amount of carbon dioxide in the house is throwing your reading off?

thejollyroger · 12/03/2018, 04:44 PM

for raising PH, doesn't Kalk raise your Calc and Alk too, like the two part liquid from BRS I use now?

Thanks again by the way for helping me understand these processes better, I do appreciate this.

mcgyvr · 12/03/2018, 04:45 PM

The co2 isnt really throwing the reading off..its part of whats causing the lower ph. The reading is still accurate..
With a cal reactor you are also reading the ph of the effluent and thats usually a ph of like 6.5
Its just tougher to maintain the "optimal" ph with life getting in the way

thejollyroger · 12/03/2018, 04:58 PM

Oh,, Roger that thank you very kindly.

ryeguyy84 · 12/03/2018, 10:10 PM

A better way would be to use the ph controller as a failsafe against the doser failing in the on position.

If the pump fails and dumps a bunch or alk in the tank the pH goes up above normal then the controller can cut the dosing pump off.

Other than that don't mess to much with pH.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

12/03/2018, 02:39 PM	#1
thejollyroger Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	Im New, :) and a question, PH Controller Hello I was given a Reef Fanatic PH Controller by a neighbor its probe needed to be replaced and I have ordered this. I wanted to try and use this in a Unusual way. I have a Jebao? Dosing pump that I use for ALK\CALC. I wonder as I cant really find anything on my thought, this alone maybe an answer to my question If the PH Controller can be setup to turn On\Off this dosing pump to keep the PH around 8.1 to 8.4 to help keep things from getting out of whack? The basics are the dosing pump has a 24 hours dosing option I have all hours set to dose 1ml. so one hour it gets 1ml of Calc, and the next hour 1ml of Alk and so on. The PH Controller is a Reef Fanatic model using a Lab Quality PH Probe you can set the range after calibration to stay within the above mentioned range and an electrical socket that you plug a device in to that in turn turns it ON\OFF to stay in range. Has anyone tried this? I would guess I cant be the only one to wonder. Thank You for any help, confirmation or advice.

12/03/2018, 02:45 PM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Ph in a reef tank inside a house is what it will be. The amount of carbon dioxide in the house is what will determine your PH. Anything in the range of 7.6 to 8.4 is completely acceptable. Dosing anything besides kalk to increase your PH will end up very bad for your tank. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

12/03/2018, 02:56 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I think you just wasted money on a new PH probe Its a far better choice to monitor alk when dosing than to monitor ph when doing so.. Many people that attempt to use products like ph buffer,etc... wonder whats happening to their tank only to find out that the use of that has caused their alk to skyrocket above recommended ranges.. The same will happen if you monitor ph and use regular alk liquid.. As the Beatles say.. "Let it Be.. Let it be.. let it be..let it be.. You shouldn't worry about that PH.... Let it be"...... __________________ Who me?

12/03/2018, 04:45 PM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	The co2 isnt really throwing the reading off..its part of whats causing the lower ph. The reading is still accurate.. With a cal reactor you are also reading the ph of the effluent and thats usually a ph of like 6.5 Its just tougher to maintain the "optimal" ph with life getting in the way __________________ Who me?

12/03/2018, 10:10 PM	#8
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	A better way would be to use the ph controller as a failsafe against the doser failing in the on position. If the pump fails and dumps a bunch or alk in the tank the pH goes up above normal then the controller can cut the dosing pump off. Other than that don't mess to much with pH. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

12/03/2018, 04:37 PM	#4
thejollyroger Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	Oh,,, Ok, yep I think I have been schooled So, when you use a PH Controller like in a Calcium reactor, how is it able to accurately control these if the amount of carbon dioxide in the house is throwing your reading off?

12/03/2018, 04:44 PM	#5
thejollyroger Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	for raising PH, doesn't Kalk raise your Calc and Alk too, like the two part liquid from BRS I use now? Thanks again by the way for helping me understand these processes better, I do appreciate this.

12/03/2018, 04:58 PM	#7
thejollyroger Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 6	Oh,, Roger that thank you very kindly.