PH dropped during party

[sabbath]

Wow, I monitor my PH with the Lighthouse controller. It usually starts going up when the lights come on. But a party started in the room right after the lights came on. The Ph went from 7.95 in the morning to 7.70 at 5pm. There was about 14 people in the room. I had no idea that is would go down like that. Today it is back to normal after a little help from baked soda.

[balto777]

Wow . . . your friends must put out A LOT of hot air . . . er, I mean carbon dioxide . . . LOL.

Honestly though, that surprises me, too!

[dbuesking]

I wonder if it was the lack of oxyegin and increase of co2.

[dbuesking]

for got spell check

[reef_doug]

My pH did that on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.

I was cooking pies in the gas oven for 3 hours and the windows were closed. It was excessive CO2, especially with gas ovens!

I added baked Baking Soda and opened the windows, pH came back in about 1 hr.

[VaderWS6]

My pH dives to 7.8 at night, and 8.1 during the day. Should I just keep adding baking soda until it reaches 8.2-8.4? The Alk is usually around 8-10, and Ca is 450ppm. I use a kalk reactor, I just don't get why my pH won't rise to 8.4 like it used to.... Maybe my Pinpoint pH monitor is giving false readings....

[reef_doug]

I believe adding baking soda is primarily to raise Alkalinity with a side effect on pH. Baked baking soda (1 hr @ 350) would have a side effect on raising pH, while raw baking soda would lower pH.

So I wouldn't use baking soda just to adjust pH since Alkalinity might get to high. Also need to keep Calcium relative and which ever supplementation scheme you are using in mind.

VaderWS6.... Are you using the baked or the raw version?

BTW.... mine is also 7.8 to 8.1

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by sabbath
Wow, I monitor my PH with the Lighthouse controller. It usually starts going up when the lights come on. But a party started in the room right after the lights came on. The Ph went from 7.95 in the morning to 7.70 at 5pm. There was about 14 people in the room. I had no idea that is would go down like that. Today it is back to normal after a little help from baked soda.

this is a normal occurance due to the build up of co2 in the room. Simply leaving a window open will bring back the pH level.
I would not recommend baking soda in this case--because it brings up your alkalinity level at the same time---if you don't make adjustments for the carbon dioxide increase then the pH will fall again but leaving you with high alk levels.

[VaderWS6]

Originally posted by reef_doug
I believe adding baking soda is primarily to raise Alkalinity with a side effect on pH. Baked baking soda (1 hr @ 350) would have a side effect on raising pH, while raw baking soda would lower pH.

So I wouldn't use baking soda just to adjust pH since Alkalinity might get to high. Also need to keep Calcium relative and which ever supplementation scheme you are using in mind.

VaderWS6.... Are you using the baked or the raw version?

BTW.... mine is also 7.8 to 8.1

I've always baked my baking soda, and my Alk stays around 8-11 with Ca at 450. Things just seem a little unstable since I added my Geo kalkreactor. Once I recalibrate my pH monitor this week (which was calibrated a few weeks ago) I'll let you know.

[bertoni]

Adding baking soda should be done only if an alkalinity test shows that the level is low. For low pH problems, controlling carbon dioxide is the key. Oxygen is irrelevant to pH problems.

[sabbath]

Originally posted by bertoni
Adding baking soda should be done only if an alkalinity test shows that the level is low. For low pH problems, controlling carbon dioxide is the key. Oxygen is irrelevant to pH problems.

My Alk test about 7kh. So I was thinking if I bumped it up a little, that it would help get the PH up with it.

[sabbath]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
this is a normal occurance due to the build up of co2 in the room. Simply leaving a window open will bring back the pH level.
I would not recommend baking soda in this case--because it brings up your alkalinity level at the same time---if you don't make adjustments for the carbon dioxide increase then the pH will fall again but leaving you with high alk levels.

Yes I will have to watch it from now on when people are over. I had no idea it would have such an affect. My stove is even electric.

So people note, Watch your PH when you have a lot of company. over. And like capn-hyliner said open a window to help with the co2.

[bertoni]

Bumping the alkalinity up to 11 dKH might help a bit, but fixing any CO₂ issue is usually a lot more effective.