Does my reef tank know when I go away on vacation?

[daves-reef]

Last week I went away for a long weekend with family up to the NH lake region.

Being able to automate and monitor my tank when away was one of the main drivers for getting the Apex controller and fusion. It was the only way I could have some piece of mind about how things are running. I have automated controls if things go wrong, Automatic feeder, and Alarms for all kinds of issues.

Everything has been stable for months. No issues but don't you know just one day away from home and I get an alarm email and text. PH too high above 8.5 which is where I set the threshold in the alarm statement.

Now my PH has a average daily swing for Photosynthesis. If you look at the log up until last Saturday its a regular sign wave. Average 8.38 high peak when display lights go off and 8.19 low range just before they turn on. Friday night peaked at 8.47. Then there was never a drop. By Saturday it set off the alarm because it rose above 8.5. It peaked at 8.59 dropped to 8.49 and peaked again at 8.59 Sunday night.

Since everything else on the Apex controller looked normal. I assumed that maybe this was a failed PH probe. When I got home last night things looked OK from what I could see without lights on. Had to go in the office this morning so no time to investigate more. But now the PH has dropped overnight as was expected in past to 8.2. So not sure what caused the PH high spike over the weekend.

I don't dose Kalk and the CA reactor seams to be functioning as usual. I will be testing ALK tonight also just to eliminate that. I still think it could be PH probe issues. I plan to clean it tonight in RO water and try calibrating again.

The APEX readings seem to have returned to normal today. After two days of being over 8.4/8.59. Other than the tank missed me. I can't see what caused the PH High alarm. It crossed my mind to drive home just to check but pushed the threshold warning up to 8.6 so I could ignore and stay up in NH.

 

[this is me]

When there's people or animal around, they generate CO2 which lower the PH of the tank. When no one is around, the CO2 is less resulting in higher PH. Assuming your PH probe doesn't need a recalibration.

 

[daves-reef]

HMMM interesting Idea,
With the subtraction of the Wife, Kid, Dog and myself. You think that was enough to change the house CO2 equilibrium enough in 24 hours to effect the Water PH levels. Upon our return last night we sucked up enough O2 and drove CO2 up enough to see significant change in the Reef Tank PH levels. Sort of like PH of tank being lower in winter because of increased CO2 in a closed up and heated house.

More fresh air will drive PH up in winter and having no animals in the house, people included drove PH up too. Maybe, I will have to see if things just settle back to usual pattern in the PH logs. Wonder if having everyone out of the house during the day also effects the PH swing along with the lights.

 

[this is me]

Next time you have a party at your house, watch the PH graph on your Apex for the day you held the party.