Getting Majorly Low Ph Readings. Why?

[knifegill]

If your KH is low (mine is .8) but stable, it's fine. PH will vary throughout the day and the fish don't care. KH changes will stress them. PH can rise and fall every hour and it won't matter as long as the KH is stable. Even as in low. My pH is regularly around 6.4, but varies if the lights turn off, if I add an airstone, etc. The osmotic pressure is not affected and the fish are not harmed. The damage is done if you move a fish from soft to hard water, or the other way, without acclimating.

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

I see, what's buging me is that the tap water I use for water changes is harder than my tank water right now. Could yo explain why that might be?

 

[Spyder001 USA]

So I would want a higher kh than I have now to increase Ph? If so, how do I increase the kh, and what may have caused it to drop in the first place?

I've considered adding crushed coral to one of my canisters but I feel like that's just putting a band-aid on it. What might a possible reason be for the kh to go down to begin with? I'd like to come up with a long term solution if possible.

I think at this time you should sit down and read a book, I suggest the "Naturalist Guide To Freshwater" before you do something you regret. Like adding crushed coral as it will sky rocket PH. There is one solid source of info for aquatics and thats science. Ph and Kh are elementry chemestry and you should rely on published liteture not people opinions. Science and opinions dont mix well because science will not change to due to personal beliefs. There are many product that will boost your kh in incriments that are easy to measure. Also the KH GH test are not as simple as ammonia and nitrates so you really want to read the instructions over a few times

1st you must find your "true PH" of both your tap and tank. Maybe invest in an electronic ph meter as the API and dip tests are reliable.

 

[Spyder001 USA]

So I would want a higher kh than I have now to increase Ph? If so, how do I increase the kh, and what may have caused it to drop in the first place?

Very cool, I'll check in sometime tomorrow with some kh and possibly gh results and go from there. It's funny every time I think I'm getting ahead in keeping fish something new arises that I can improve on, never gets old
And thanks a ton for all the help so far, it's been very helpful. And I somewhat agree on the bioload, hopefully everything will be distributed properly and I'll be relatively issue free.

Really look into published literture (there is a ton). Would you go into to take a science test without studying? Would you feel confident taking a science test going offer other peoples advice? Well with aquatics your practicing science daily. So eliminate those constant roadblocks, headaches and suprises by eduacting yourself about the hobby you love.

 

[carsona246]

ok crushed coral does not skyrocket ph. I know that cc isn't the most reliable way to raise/stabalize ph, but I've used it for quite a while, and have never observed my ph skyrocketing when adding it to a new tank. So long as you wash the cc well before adding it to the tank, and only add it in small portions it will change the ph nice and slowly.

 

[gavigan1]

I have been trying to resolve low ph issues for a while. I tried increase water changes, lots of aeration, adding crushed coral, and still had extremely low PH.

I cleaned out my biologial filter really well, added salt, a bit of baking soda and lowered my tank temperature. I am running a virually silent sump/ overflow design with glass canopies with an enclosed stand. My tank was heating up to 89 degrees. I used egg crate to enclose the tank and small fans to bring my tank down to 79 degrees. My ph problem seems to be resolved for now.