My pH is all screwy... help?

[Plec123]

Due to several time-consuming factors including school and sports, I havent been able do do a WC for a while, just top off the tank.

I tested my pH today and it read below 6.0 on my pH test scale. My tap water is between 6.8 and 7 on the same scale. I did 2 50% water changes today, one in the morning and one a few minutes ago. And my pH test still reads my tank's pH at under 6.0, or exactly 6.0, i cant tell since 6.0 is the lowest pH level it reads...
How is this possible?

 

[charles-n-charge]

wc won't do much for pH levels. The stuff in your tank is what effects pH.
For example, driftwood lowers pH, corals or ocean sand raise pH.

What kind of stuff do you have in your tank and in your filter?

 

[Plec123]

I have a decent amount of bogwood, the tank's moderately planted.. filter is an ac110 (tank is only 38 gallons) with nothing really meant for altering water chem.. a sponge for mechanical filtration, some ceramic blocks for bacteria to live on, and a bag of carbon that's pretty much just serving as living space for bacteria at this point.
do you think its a good idea to get some more carbon?

 

[charles-n-charge]

Try removing the wood and doing another water change in a few days. See if that brings it up.
You can also add crushed coral to your filter depending on what your stock is


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Plec123]

Try removing the wood and doing another water change in a few days. See if that brings it up.
You can also add crushed coral to your filter depending on what your stock is


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

i just remembered my water has like no kH so the crushed coral in the filter will help.
the wood cant come out though. its part of my clown plec's diet and has my anubias and java fern growing all over it.

 

[charles-n-charge]

The coral should work, they should balance each other out

 

[Plec123]

alright i'll definitely add some then.

 

[johno27]

The reason the ph crashed is most likely a build up of dissolved organics. It will take several large water changes but that will fix the problem. I would also monitor your ammonia level closely. At low ph ammonia is far less toxic and you and the fish may barely notice it but once you raise the ph you could have problems.

The reason you may see a mini cycle is because at a ph level of much below 6 BB go dormant and stop reproducing.

Keep on the water changes and monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels and keep some prime on hand in case of spikes. Normally I would say add some salt to help in case of nitrites but you already said you have plants