pH Question

[Keeper of the Ropes]

Just when I start to think I might have it all figured out...

Two tanks. Same species of fish. Same age of tank. Same date on the last water changes. Same substrate (none). Same filtration. Same water source. Same chemicals used. Same decor (none). Same food used for the fish.

So ... why... do their water pH measurements vary GREATLY? One sitting at under 6.4, the other a bit above 7.8.

These tanks have always been bichir tanks - it's not like I tried to keep Mbunas once a blue moon ago and there's remnants of pH buffer in one of them and not the other.

Keeper*

 

[KABB44423]

so is it to high or to low it may be lower beacuse u feed more to that tank every time u feed ur fish and they use the bathroom ur ph goes down so im told

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

It obviously affects the ammonia in the tank, but pH? Never heard that before. I'm not sayin it's incorrect though... I have no idea.

As for feeding time - either it happens or it doesn't. It's not like I feed only one tank. If I'm going to get all shrimpified and sticky, I'm definitely gonna feed all the tanks at the same time. As for food volume, that always depends. Sometimes bichirs eat like hogs, other times they just sort of mouth their food, think about it, then change their mind.

Keeper*

 

[rjmtx]

What about mass of fish per gallon? Larger fish to water ratios mean more respiration per gallon, dropping pH. Does one tank get get more light than the other? If algae growth is different in each tank, that explains it.

 

[Merbeast]

Check the nitrates.