Fast PH changes effects on your bio filttration?
- Thread starter NOLAGT
- Start date
dwilder;3576997; said:
Well I just tested the 90gal PH and somehow it has rissen to 6.8. Out the tap is definetly 5.5-6. I was doing big water changes on the 90 to dilute the amn...and I think because of that I was keeping the PH at tap like levels at 5.5-6. But I had stopped doing the water changes a week or so ago to see what it would do on its own. The water was like milk even doing those 50% changes...and then its slowly ben clearing...but still hazy today. The amn was at 8+ and now is at 4. So maybe something in the tank has been raising the PH slowly and the BB are starting to regroup and do there thing. I am just going to leave it for now and see. Odd thing is IDK whats in the tank raising the PH....its just natural gravel...plastic plants and wood...and filter material like biomax and sponges...and a airstone
most water ph does change from the tap to the tank some more than others. after 24 hrs or so once the water has aged is the stable ph .you may need to age your water over night before doing water changes, dont think it will have much affect on your bb but it could affect your fish
Thanks for clarifying what you were referencing Dwilder.
　
I have read similar reports (nitrification is greatly inhibited with PH less than 6) from very reliable sources, yet for 7 years I lived in an area that gave me water with a PH of 6.5 with almost (if not) 0 KH. My tanks with driftwood commonly hand a PH of 6.0, some a little lower. None of these tanks ever had ammonia nor nitrite build up. So while I cannot ignore the scientific reports, I also have personal experience that suggests different.
　
I’m not willing to throw out the science I read, but this experience leads me to believe that at 5.5 or 6, nitrification may be slowed, but is by no means stopped.
　
As suggested, it is possible for PH readings straight out of the tap to give a “false reading”. It is suggested to put tap water (including well water) in an inert container with a bubbler (if not available, regular stirring will do the same thing) overnight. The PH reading of the water after sitting overnight should be used as the PH reading. The PH reading out of the tap should be considered a false reading. Therefore the change of PH should not be seen as a PH swing.
　
I don’t know that any of this “answers your questions” or “solves your problem”, but it seemed like relevant information to your situation.
　
I have read similar reports (nitrification is greatly inhibited with PH less than 6) from very reliable sources, yet for 7 years I lived in an area that gave me water with a PH of 6.5 with almost (if not) 0 KH. My tanks with driftwood commonly hand a PH of 6.0, some a little lower. None of these tanks ever had ammonia nor nitrite build up. So while I cannot ignore the scientific reports, I also have personal experience that suggests different.
　
I’m not willing to throw out the science I read, but this experience leads me to believe that at 5.5 or 6, nitrification may be slowed, but is by no means stopped.
　
As suggested, it is possible for PH readings straight out of the tap to give a “false reading”. It is suggested to put tap water (including well water) in an inert container with a bubbler (if not available, regular stirring will do the same thing) overnight. The PH reading of the water after sitting overnight should be used as the PH reading. The PH reading out of the tap should be considered a false reading. Therefore the change of PH should not be seen as a PH swing.
　
I don’t know that any of this “answers your questions” or “solves your problem”, but it seemed like relevant information to your situation.
Ohh no...a wealth of info that makes things make more since. It answers 2 questions..the one I posted and one I didnt but have been asking my self fighting with this 90 I have. I will have to bubble some tap water overnight tonight and see what I get tomorrow.
So if its 5.5 or so out the tap and tomorrow its 6.0 or 6.2 or something like that then its false reading and not a PH swing...are you also saying that its false reading and there is really no change in the toxicity of the amoninna as the PH changes and effecting how well the BB are doing there job and growing?
So if its 5.5 or so out the tap and tomorrow its 6.0 or 6.2 or something like that then its false reading and not a PH swing...are you also saying that its false reading and there is really no change in the toxicity of the amoninna as the PH changes and effecting how well the BB are doing there job and growing?
Use Prime to detoxify the ammonia. I would age as much water as possible for your WC's so you can have better consistency & control. If your aged water reads anything above 6.0 I'm sure your BB are working, but there may not be enough free ammonia to promote new BB growth... I think if it were my tanks, I would put a small amount (it wont take much to go from 5.5 to 7.0) of aragonite or crushed coral in a filter bag & either stick it in the filters or in the water buckets during aging.
NOLAGT;3577276; said:
If your tap water comes out at 6.0 and you aerate the water ovenight in an inert container... and the PH reads 6.5 the next day...
Then out of the tap the PH is actually 6.5...
The "false reading" should be ignored. In this situation, the actual PH out of the tap is 6.5, but the test misreads the PH as 6.0 due to concentrated gases that have formed in the pipes.
So when you are aerating the water overnight in an inert container, you are not allowing the PH to adjust, you are allowing the gases that interfear with your PH test to dissipate...
NOLAGT;3574266; said:
I swear to gosh that if I didn't know what all that meant I'd be so lost
nc_nutcase;3575914; said:
Although I am going through a similar situation and have no answer.. I see how it makes sense not to shock the bb and do it slowly. So thats the route ill take. How slow you say..? Weeks?
girl_interrupted;3577517; said:
I'm of the opinion that instant changes within the range of PH that is healthy for bacteria has no ill effects. So going from 6 to 8.5 or anywhere inside of that instantly has no ill effect...
Though I can't blame anyone for taking steps to be cautious...
When we get new fish and want to adapt them to our tanks water, It is suggested to doing a slow drip acclimation. I've done a slow drip for up to a few hours, never a dull day and certainly not over a few weeks...
I see no reason to be more delicate with bacteria than fish...
