Hey MFK gang! 
Thanks for checking out this thread as your help and opinion is much needed!
ok So I've bought a used 180g tank.... cleaned the tank.... filled it up with water and have cycled the water until i see absuolutely no Ammonia and nitrites but I am only getting 5ppm of Nitrates with Currently 11 Black Tetra's occupying the tank atm. My plan is to move my RTG over to this new 180g but i have been fairly hessitant cause the PH of this tank keeps rising ranging 8.2 to 8.4 when i left it during cycling for over 2 weeks. Some Facts:
- My PH from Tap 7.6
- My PH on my 2nd 75g tank is 7.8 and has never touched PH of 8 before
- After 20g+ WC in 180g the PH can drop to 7.8 but will go back up to 8.2+
within 24 hours.
- The 180g tank is bare with only the essentials(AC110, Fluval404, powerhead, bubble wall, heater)
- AC110 contain 1 bag of ceramic media and sponge.
- Fluval404 contains all sponge.
What I can't understand is what is causing the PH in the 180g to raise to 8.4+ when everytime i do a WC the PH drops to 7.8 then goes right back up in 24hours.
I am currently thinking about using driftwood but i dont know if what is causing the raise in PH inside the 180g is temperary or permanent. If i do go with driftwood i am afraid that one day the PH might drop too low too fast drastically killing my RTG. How much Drift wood would i need to change a PH of 0.6?? from 8.4??
So to Recap...
Problem:
The cycled water in 180g Tank keeps rising to 8.4ph from 7.8 even after WC.
My current known solution:
Add driftwood into the 180g and do small WC's to lower PH.
Questions:
How much Driftwood will i need to Drop PH of 0.6??
What kind of drift wood would you recommend and Why? plz.
here are some pictures of my 180g to help get a general idea of what I mean by bare tank. I have absolutely nothing in this tank that I can give me an idea of what is affecting the PH rise.
Thanks!.
Front View
Side View
Thanks for checking out this thread as your help and opinion is much needed!
ok So I've bought a used 180g tank.... cleaned the tank.... filled it up with water and have cycled the water until i see absuolutely no Ammonia and nitrites but I am only getting 5ppm of Nitrates with Currently 11 Black Tetra's occupying the tank atm. My plan is to move my RTG over to this new 180g but i have been fairly hessitant cause the PH of this tank keeps rising ranging 8.2 to 8.4 when i left it during cycling for over 2 weeks. Some Facts:
- My PH from Tap 7.6
- My PH on my 2nd 75g tank is 7.8 and has never touched PH of 8 before
- After 20g+ WC in 180g the PH can drop to 7.8 but will go back up to 8.2+
within 24 hours.
- The 180g tank is bare with only the essentials(AC110, Fluval404, powerhead, bubble wall, heater)
- AC110 contain 1 bag of ceramic media and sponge.
- Fluval404 contains all sponge.
What I can't understand is what is causing the PH in the 180g to raise to 8.4+ when everytime i do a WC the PH drops to 7.8 then goes right back up in 24hours.
I am currently thinking about using driftwood but i dont know if what is causing the raise in PH inside the 180g is temperary or permanent. If i do go with driftwood i am afraid that one day the PH might drop too low too fast drastically killing my RTG. How much Drift wood would i need to change a PH of 0.6?? from 8.4??
So to Recap...
Problem:
The cycled water in 180g Tank keeps rising to 8.4ph from 7.8 even after WC.
My current known solution:
Add driftwood into the 180g and do small WC's to lower PH.
Questions:
How much Driftwood will i need to Drop PH of 0.6??
What kind of drift wood would you recommend and Why? plz.
here are some pictures of my 180g to help get a general idea of what I mean by bare tank. I have absolutely nothing in this tank that I can give me an idea of what is affecting the PH rise.
Thanks!.
Front View
Side View
