I dunno, my pH meter croaked like a week after I got it, stupid POS. Anyway, I'm getting one of those salifert kits, I'm tired of crappy meters and their crappy probes not working. I'll have to test the effluent when I get home. I dunno, maybe I need to turn down the effluent and let the CO2 have a longer visit with the media? Beats me. At this point all I do know I'll be Suzy Homemaker with the baking soda when I get home on Friday