ok i have a newly cycled 125g. only has a 4" oscar and 2 3-4" limas. i had troubles cycling but all seems to be good now except the ph. ammonia is 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates are 10-15. my tap is 7.0 and after a week my tank reads about 6.5. i have 2 pieces of cypress drift wood but they dont seem to be the probem. I broke off a piece of each and put each in a cup of tap water to see if it drops. so far it has not at all after about 4 days. Also the tap does not drop on its own either. what else can it be?
ph keeps dropping, what can it be?
- Thread starter EVP
- Start date
This is common. Closed biological systems tend to acidify over time. I would also guess that your municipal water has low KH. The easiest and cheapest remedial action is to add some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to your tank every couple of days. You can get this at the grocery store for under a dollar. It won't take much...maybe the equivalent of 1-2 teaspoons every week. But, you will have to work out the optimal amount. More frequent wcs will also counteract the pH drop.
EVP;2484045; said:
I believe it is caused by decaying food and waste in the substrate and or filters.
EVP;2484064; said:
Do you have adequate aeration/surface agitation? I read somewhere that not having enough aeration/surface agitation causes excess carbon dioxide which can lower the ph. I am going off memory on this though and I can't remember where I read it, so it may not be 100% accurate.
thats not a big drop and i would worry about it or mess with it... just leave it be... if it really bothers you do a water change in the middle of the week
EVP;2484045; said:
Aerobic respiration by both the fish and the bacteria releases CO2, which combines with water to form carbonic acid. Also, both the fish and bacteria are releasing a variety of organic acids as part of their metabolism and excretion. An aquarium is a CLOSED SYSTEM....these acids accumulate. The KH of your municipal water will buffer initially, but will eventually be overwhelmed. Hence, you must replenish the KH with water changes and/or the addition of sodium bicarbonate. Atmoshpheric CO2 will eventually diffuse into standing water and form carbonic acid, but in your case, this effect is moot.
no baking soda needed... its a .5 drop over a week... there is no problem here... if it went from 7 to 5 i would say there is a problem... no baking soda or crushed coral is need... if i were you i would throw the damn test kit out and just increase your water chnges and not worry about your params.... KISS method is all thats needed... just feed good food and keep the water clean...
