Low PH
- Thread starter sal9012
- Start date
Sounds like you might to do 50% changes a week.
What are the other readings like between WC's.
If the tap is 7.8-8.0 and it drops that much in a week, sounds like the stock is causing it to go down if you don't have any driftwood, peat bags, etc.
Limestone rocks will raise it as well, just takes quite awhile.
Baking soda works as well, and will only raise it to 8.2 I think, no matter how much you use.
Be wary of sudden drastic changes though, as the fish are used to the water.
Any drastic changes could be a problem.
Why are you wanting to raise it anyway. Consistancy is the key. Start adding stuff to the water to make it X PH, start a never ending battle with water to keep it at X.
Easier IMO to leave the water as is and keep compatible fish.
Been through the high PH, heard, alkaline water with rift lake africans, and buying/adding all these salts/buffers, etc.
Also been through the soft water, low(er) PH "black water" type fish, and actually just decided to add conditioner to the water and nothing else. All the other "stuff" made it less enjoyable to me. Spent more time testing for the"perfect" water than enjoying the fish.
I figured, if all the fish I had died, because of only adding conditioner to the change water, then I would just go with an unheated native tank full of Bluegill, Crappie, Catfish, etc., and get my change water from the local park lake.
Needless to say, I quit messing with the water and my fish are doing as well, if not better than before. Have yet to go to the park for change water.
What are the other readings like between WC's.
If the tap is 7.8-8.0 and it drops that much in a week, sounds like the stock is causing it to go down if you don't have any driftwood, peat bags, etc.
Limestone rocks will raise it as well, just takes quite awhile.
Baking soda works as well, and will only raise it to 8.2 I think, no matter how much you use.
Be wary of sudden drastic changes though, as the fish are used to the water.
Any drastic changes could be a problem.
Why are you wanting to raise it anyway. Consistancy is the key. Start adding stuff to the water to make it X PH, start a never ending battle with water to keep it at X.
Easier IMO to leave the water as is and keep compatible fish.
Been through the high PH, heard, alkaline water with rift lake africans, and buying/adding all these salts/buffers, etc.
Also been through the soft water, low(er) PH "black water" type fish, and actually just decided to add conditioner to the water and nothing else. All the other "stuff" made it less enjoyable to me. Spent more time testing for the"perfect" water than enjoying the fish.
I figured, if all the fish I had died, because of only adding conditioner to the change water, then I would just go with an unheated native tank full of Bluegill, Crappie, Catfish, etc., and get my change water from the local park lake.
Needless to say, I quit messing with the water and my fish are doing as well, if not better than before. Have yet to go to the park for change water.
2007-06-02
Either (crushed) coral or Dolomite (cheaper & more environmentally friendly) should work. Both will harden the water. This will stabilize the pH, rather than having it rise & just as quickly fall as would be the case with the use of baking soda.
I suggest putting it in a bag, in the filter so that if the pH and kH rise too much, it can easily be removed until needed again.
Hardening the water a bit also provides minerals that the nitrifying bacteria need to do their job so it's a Win / Win thing . . .
Cheers,
Terry
Either (crushed) coral or Dolomite (cheaper & more environmentally friendly) should work. Both will harden the water. This will stabilize the pH, rather than having it rise & just as quickly fall as would be the case with the use of baking soda.
I suggest putting it in a bag, in the filter so that if the pH and kH rise too much, it can easily be removed until needed again.
Hardening the water a bit also provides minerals that the nitrifying bacteria need to do their job so it's a Win / Win thing . . .
Cheers,
Terry
Do you clean under the UG? A build up of organic waste will lower pH a lot like peat does.
With your nitrates sitting at 40 ppm even with all the filtration and pwcs I'd say you have a good amount under there. Try sticking a siphon down in the tubes and see how much gunk you pull out.
With your nitrates sitting at 40 ppm even with all the filtration and pwcs I'd say you have a good amount under there. Try sticking a siphon down in the tubes and see how much gunk you pull out.
