stabilise ph / kh?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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fizz08

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2008
50
0
0
UK
Hi guys

I had a few PH issues a month or so ago where my PH was dangerously low (around 4). With the help from you guys we found it was the RO water I was using that caused this so I slowly went over to tap and got a PH of around 7. The issue I now have is that my PH seems to start dropping and by the time I do my bi weekly water change its back down to around 5.5. It then goes back up to 7 when I do a water change, but again starts to slowly go back down. I've got 2 x external canisters on there with a UV filter as well. I've tested the KH which seems to be low but I’ve already tried raising this by using baking soda with my water changes but to no avail. Any1 recommend anything as all I want is a stable PH. Rays are both doing fine by the way, although the male sometimes goes pale white for a while.
 
Like I said the first time, baking soda is a quick fix but isn't effective long-term.. Someone didn't listen :grinno:

Use crushed coral as a biological media in your canister filter.

Ronin_man - Are you watching? RO bad..
 
oh and FYI the reason the pH is dropping between water changes is because; The minerals and nutrients that make up your kH are consumed by nitrifying bacteria.. the bigger you bio-load and the more nitrifying bacteria you have, the faster your kH will decline, and in turn, lower the pH.
 
Thnx for the quick replies guys. If I use the crushed coral Miles will that not buffer above 7 once I do do water changes or does it not work like that? For example when I do a water change with tap @ 7, wont the coral in my filter raise it even more?
 
It might.. but it shouldn't matter.. Rays don't mind a high pH like so many websites falsely report. Just because they come from the Amazon, doesn't mean they live in black water. They have hard water areas in South America, just like we do in North America. The most key point is to have the pH be very constant, and baking soda doesn't provide that.. but like Kevaldo said, a constant flow of water over a designated amount of crushed coral will keep your pH - constant.
 
ok Miles, once again thanks for ur advice, will get some crushed coral in one of my cannister filters and see how it goes.
 
Again...great info.
 
Right guys, followed the info from miles & added a little coral in the cannister. The problem im having is the PH is going above 8 when I do the water change then gradually lowers before the next water change. If there anyway to stabilise it so that it doesnt change so much?
 
You could pre-treat your water? Let it sit and circulate for a period of time first..

It should stable out more the longer you run that coral.. I wonder why the pH goes up? Possibly has something to do with the new water being very pure and well oxygenated, and then with some time in the tank it absorbs cO2 and acidic properties (nitrate)..

Might need a water chemistry expert on this one ;)
 
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