pH problems NEED HELP

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T

taelee

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2010
38
0
0
Fairfax, VA
I bought a 75 gallon after taking a year long break from the hobby. It was bought on April 20,2010 kept the pH at 7.0 completely fine till the week after it hit 6.0 at this time I had 9 Ghost Shrimps and 3 Flounders. I noticed the Ghost Shrimp dying off one by one each day or so. Flounders seemed fine looking pretty healthy and eating blackworms. I also bought a halfbeak and an juvie archer fish. They both seem to be fine no signs of stress. I also have a couple plants in there Java Moss, Java Fern, Hygrophila, and Valissneria. NO KIND OF ANY DRIFTWOOD. Looked around for anything dead that I've might of been missed but saw nothing. I've also made two 25% water change and 40% today. I tested again on the third week added some crushed corals and an 8.2 buffer. pH is now currently at 6.6 and ammoina is now at 0.25. My goal for pH is 7.0-7.5. I work at the LFS with many different experts and possibly could solve this problem soon but I thought I'd reach out to you guys also.

Now for my set up:
Aquarium: 75 Gallons
Substrate: Sand (non-pH adjusting) with a few handles of crushed corals
Filter: Emperor 400 with crushed corals in both casings
Deco: Non-pH adjusting rocks and plants listed above

I will answer all questions. Please try to help me out. Thank you.

Pictures of the tank will be posted tonight.
 
sounds like your tank isnt cycled, bumping the ph up makes the ammonia more toxic. Do you use any media in your filters besides the crushed coral? Sponges etc?
 
yeah i never check my ph or try to change it and my fish are all fine. after a week i sometimes test my tank to see if my ammonia went up, since i did a full 2 weeks cycle with pure ammonia after a week my readings are 0 ppm ammonia 0 ppm nitrite 10 ppm nitrate. i think my tank cant handle for a week or two but i am always wrong. if your tank was fully cycled you would not have this problem. i know you can buy some safe start and it will cycle your tank instantly but it is kinda pricey, i used it on my 60 gallon its good if you need some bacteria for an emergency, watch out because that product does cycle your tank and will give you a nitrite spike so do a water change a couple of days after
 
I am not using anything sponges. To cycle my tank I did throw in SafeStart. Other liquids that are added into my tank is AmQuel and Floruish supplements and excel. I was also told to use baking soda by a friend. I was also planning on doing a 100% percent water change soon and starting all over again.
 
are you sure you used to safe start correctly? did you remove your carbon from filter? i think you gotta take it out for about 2 days. i was cycling with gold fish at first then bought some safe start and added fish. i got a nitrite spike but a water change took it out. remember the bacteria is all in your filter theres not much in the sand or water
 
I guess I'm going to have to give SafeStart another shot. To remove the nitrates I was also thinking about getting mangrove trees along with the water change. I guess I was excited and rushed everything. Thanks for the info.
 
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