pH questions

[cgoldsmith_99]

Several PH questions from a newbie:

1. Does fish waste lower the pH of your water?
2. Tap water is 7.4, yet pH of tank is routinely between 6.8 and 7.0. There is no driftwood or anything else that lowers the pH, should I use a buffer to keep the pH closer to the tap water? Many on this forum have advised against using any buffer, but I don't want my fish to experience pH shock everytime I potentially do a water change.
3. Any other thoughts on what would drive pH lower? Tank was used for saltwater previously.

Thanks

 

[toehead11183]

1: yes
2: if you do a 25% water change and no more, you shouldn't have to worry about shock
3:things that lower pH. excess waste (over feeding, over stocking, not sifting poop from gravel), Not doing water changes as often as you should.
if you'd like to raise you pH naturally, add a little limestone or crushed coral to to filters.

 

[JAK]

i would do small frequent water changes,depends on the size of tank as to how much water to change out.my tanks get 3 water changes per week,for a total of about 50% of the water.keeps everything in check nitrates and p.h. my p.h out of the tap is 7.6 and the tank stays at 7.6-7.4 SMALL FREQUENT WATER CHANGES WORKS.....also i see your in mn where abouts.

 

[cgoldsmith_99]

I'm in eden prairie. Tank is 125. My nitrates are always reasonable 10-30 ppm, so I don't think I am overfeeding/not cleaning enough. Will up the water change frequency and see how that goes

 

[DeLgAdO]

Several PH questions from a newbie:

1. Does fish waste lower the pH of your water?
2. Tap water is 7.4, yet pH of tank is routinely between 6.8 and 7.0. There is no driftwood or anything else that lowers the pH, should I use a buffer to keep the pH closer to the tap water? Many on this forum have advised against using any buffer, but I don't want my fish to experience pH shock everytime I potentially do a water change.
3. Any other thoughts on what would drive pH lower? Tank was used for saltwater previously.

Thanks

1. fish waste itself does not lower pH but the process of nitrification does.

2. if the tank water is 6.8-7.0 and your tap comes out at 7.4 it is clear that you are not doing enough water changes, but dont do big ones all of a sudden! how much do you regularly change? the reason we advise against buffers is because it is not a good long term solution.

 

[DeLgAdO]

btw what do you keep?

 

[cgoldsmith_99]

I generally do 20-30% water changes every 2 weeks. I have a fire eel, rope fish, some clown loaches, and 3 large frontosas in the tank. I do recognize these fish like dramatically different pHs.