Tap pH 7.6 Tank pH 6.2 why?
- Thread starter ewurm
- Start date
Well IME tap p.h. is always lower. That is why I age my water before I do changes. Drops in your p.h. in your tank can be due to fish waste. You mentioned high nitrates this is usually accompanied by high waist levels and uneaten foods. Water changes will help this.
How many different times are you going to ask the same question? Recommendations were already made on what to check in your last thread on this. Do a gravel wash/water change and retest since something in your tank is causing an increase in acidity.
The plants/fish/food and the driftwood both assist in the acidity you mention.
try taking the wood out . And it sounds like your not doing 10 to 20 percent water changes often enough to keep your tanks p.h. close to your local tap waters p.h.
go to wallmart , petco, petsmart or another local fish store and buy either jungle or mardel brands water testing strips. Get a 5 in 1 test an a ammonia test. Test your tank and tap water with 2 strips each to double check and your problem should clear up if you are doing enough water changes. What size tank, filter fish? How many fish, plants, snails? What are your other parameters NO3- NO2- NH4+ before and after water change? How often do you do water changes? How much water do you change at one time? What type of filter media, and how often do you change it? all of these things can affect p.h.
try taking the wood out . And it sounds like your not doing 10 to 20 percent water changes often enough to keep your tanks p.h. close to your local tap waters p.h.
go to wallmart , petco, petsmart or another local fish store and buy either jungle or mardel brands water testing strips. Get a 5 in 1 test an a ammonia test. Test your tank and tap water with 2 strips each to double check and your problem should clear up if you are doing enough water changes. What size tank, filter fish? How many fish, plants, snails? What are your other parameters NO3- NO2- NH4+ before and after water change? How often do you do water changes? How much water do you change at one time? What type of filter media, and how often do you change it? all of these things can affect p.h.
Oddball said:
is a gravel wash the same as a gravel vac? im a little slow, nice puffer you got there oddball
AARRGGH!!!!! Stop using distilled water unless you want to keep the pH in an acid condition. Distilled water is completely demineralized including lime that boosts your pH towards the alkaline side of the spectrum. If you decide to go with rams, get a trace element supplement to put essential minerals, vitamins, and amino acids back into the system that the distilled water doesn't provide.
Sorry, didn't realize you were using distilled water. And, yes...gravel vac=gravel wash. I hope you're not referring to the old battery-powered gravel vac. Those put more waste back into the tank than you're taking out.
Sorry, didn't realize you were using distilled water. And, yes...gravel vac=gravel wash. I hope you're not referring to the old battery-powered gravel vac. Those put more waste back into the tank than you're taking out.
no I mean the hose gravel vac that you suck to get it started , I didnt know they made battery powered ones( and could never afford these)
Wow I had no idea about the distilled water thing , I have only ever used treated tap water . Customers would ask if they could use distilled water and I would say "I do not know, I have never tried it." And then the customers get angry that you havent scientifically tested every thing .-jeez
Wow I had no idea about the distilled water thing , I have only ever used treated tap water . Customers would ask if they could use distilled water and I would say "I do not know, I have never tried it." And then the customers get angry that you havent scientifically tested every thing .-jeez
Take out the live plants and driftwood. Both can, and will lower PH. You could also add some crushed coral to the gravel to increase the alkaline buffering capacity.
Howdy,
You didn't mention what fish you keep ... maybe the low pH value is even beneficial. And please, leave the plants in
A lowering of the pH value can be due to decomposition processes as well as ion-exchange properties of your driftwood. Depends on how old it is, and what size compared to the tank volume. That property - generally - soon fades away.
More frequent water changes will keep your pH value higher, if your fish like that better.
HarleyK
You didn't mention what fish you keep ... maybe the low pH value is even beneficial. And please, leave the plants in
A lowering of the pH value can be due to decomposition processes as well as ion-exchange properties of your driftwood. Depends on how old it is, and what size compared to the tank volume. That property - generally - soon fades away.
More frequent water changes will keep your pH value higher, if your fish like that better.
HarleyK