low ph and algae

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H

hotchoo

Feeder Fish
Jan 27, 2009
2
0
0
new jersey
Hi Guys, first time posting, new to the sight.
I have a 120 gallon tank with one 10" peacock bass in it. It's been established for about 3 years now. Recently noticed a haze on one of his eyes so a water test showed a very low ph (bout 6.0). Over the last two weeks did three water changes.. about 40% of the water each change. Thoroughly cleaned both sponges and cleaned the gravel excessively. Following each water change the ph naturally increases to about 6.5 but the following day drops down to 6.0 again. Am thinking a ph increaser will just be a temporary band-aid, besides I don't want to stress the fish.
Was wondering if anybody who's experienced a simlar situation could advise me with a solution. Could it be the algae in the tank or even dying algae in the upturned gravel bed- the gravel was covered with algae, now (since vacuuming the gravel bed) it's all dying with no light. The fish is handling the water changes very well so far, but I don't know if two changes a week will eventually wear him down.
Thankyou so much for any help
 
Do you have a liquid dropper test kit? You should definitely test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. It sounds like you are doing massive cleaning all at once, and may be interrupting your cycle. There is a way to buffer your water with baking soda, magnesium and something else, but I can't advise on that, since I've never had the need to do so.
 
Haha. Water changes are good and necessary. A healthy system can handle a 50% water change every day without a problem. But if you haven't been doing them regularly, start small to avoid osmotic shock.

How did you clean your filters? In old tank water I hope? Chlorine from your tap will kill the bacteria and cause ammonia spikes if your cycle has been interrupted.

Add small amounts of crushed coral to buffer your water. Odds are it's just degasing after it leaves the tap.

What are your nitrAte levels like? A high nitrate reading can indicate that there are large amounts of dissolved waste in your water, which is probably the case if you view water changes as a bad thing. This high waste level will also break down your pH.
 
Sounds like you should be focusing on your KH.

The good bacteria require KH to perform and keep up with processing Ammonia and Nitrate. In doing so, pH drops as KH is used. I'm guessing that with your water changes you're marginally adding enough KH to raise your pH and allow your bacteria to continue their work. It's quickly depleted and your back down to 6.0 and lethargic bacteria then you may be exposing your fish to increasing amounts of ammonia and nitrate (which, incidentally, is less toxic at that low of a pH).

There are a few ways to remedy this. Crushed corral being one. My tap water has almost no KH so I use SMALL doses of Marine Buffer at water changes. I also use Wonder Shells.

I can't recommend this article enough to learn how all these water parameters work together:

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumKH.html
 
Mummy man is right above me...It's KH that'll crash the PH...if your PH consistently dives its because ammonia is forcing it down. When the water doesn't contain enough "minerals" nitrates and ammonia will drive down the PH, which goes down to suspend the ammonia...throw a chunk of dead coral or limestone in the tank and it'll buffer it to 7 - 7.5
 
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