Low PH Cycling

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AquaApprentice

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2011
42
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Tampa, Florida
So, I have had a 125 gallon tank that hasn't cycled in the past four to five months I have had it set up...could not for the life of me figure it out. I have a juvenile jack dempsey fish, he was a rescue fish, and he has been in there with ammonia levels that have been just uncontrollable, but has not reacted in ANY way that I would have traditionally associated with ammonia poisoning (which should occur even at as little as .25 ppm.) I had no clue how the jack dempsey could have no ill effect at these levels and why I could not do anything to even begin to cycle the tank (seeded filter media, Stability, Startmart, SafeStart, used sponge filter, used bio-balls, seeded tank gravel.)

After doing some research I have come to the conclusion that it is all the PH's fault. The ph registers at 6.0 or lower once in the tank, but out of the faucet it is over 7. It does the same in my dad's tank, so my only guess is that the kh of the water is low and is subsequently causing a ph crash. The low ph is basically freezing bacterial growth, but at the same time is causing the ammonia to be instantly converted to ammonium and therefore rendering the fish safe.

My question is: Should I find some way to raise the ph and see if I can FINALLY cycle the tank or should I leave the ph as it is and just allow the ammonia to be converted to ammonium? This has all been so confusing...
 
That being said, as of this last month I have visible nitrates now , somewhere between 10 and 20 ppm, and I have no nitrates whatsoever in my tap water...this is all so very confusing.

I had an ammonia spike, but no fall. I had a nitrite spike, then after I did a water change (during which I used RO water...so super low ph) it basically dissapeared with no gradual drop off. So now I am left with visible ammonia that is being converted to ammonium and 20 ppm of nitrates...

Where does this leave me?
 
Bacteria grows very slowly in low ph and if it's low enough it basically doesn't grow at all. You have the right idea that the ammonia is likely completely non-toxic. However, nitrite still is. Since you're keeping a jack dempsey, which is a CA Cichlid, and ideally your ph would be 7.0 to about 7.8, my personal advice would be to throw some crushed coral in your filter to gently buffer the ph up and then immediately start another Stability treatment.
Your ph should hold at 7.0 or above after a bit. Just watch the levels carefully as a fast rise in ph can be a bit stressful and will rapidly increase ammonia toxicity. Once the crushed coral has been running for a bit and your kh is increased, your water should hold whatever ph it ends up even after water changest. I have similar tap water and my ph is 7.6-7.8 in a tank running an FX5 with one basket full of crushed coral.
 
I agree. Would Aragonite work just as well? The only issue I can see is that putting crushed coral or aragonite in the filter is going to take up media space, which stinks. Maybe I should just replace the entire substrate? But then again, I don't want the ph to be at 8 or anything like that; either a pair of Red Tiger Motas or Festae are going to be the eventually tank inhabitants.
 
Same problem here in WA. Crushed coral works perfectly. Amount needed will vary by location. I only need about two handfulls for my 55g to keep pH around 7.2. Lasts about six months, then I need to add new coral to replace what's been discarded by water changes. You should certainly entertain other options but I think you'll find this to be the most practical and affordable. It's perfectly safe for softwater species like angelfish and SA catfish, etc. I can't imagine larger SA cichlids having any issue with it.
 
I added three Aqua Lace rocks in the hope that I could use that as a more natural looking way to raise my PH, however, it had virtually no effect that I can see in the test strips. Still at 6.0 or below. So either I need to add a lot more Aqua Lace, or go the Crushed Coral or Aragonite route.

My question is, how can I add Crushed Coral or Aragonite to a tank that has very large gravel as the substrate without making it look silly? Should I add it to one of the media baskets? For reference I have a Fluval 305 and an Emperor 400 at the moment. I really don't want to take up media space unless you all think it is a good idea.

What is the way to do this? I think it is the hardness of the tap water that is causing this huge ph crash...so I need to mineralize the water somehow.
 
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