Driftwood Effect

[vancouver]

Can driftwood lower the ph of a tank?

My tap water comes out at 7.0 ---- my tank water is at 5.0 after 4 days...

I did a 100% water change 4 days ago.. a total cleaning of the tank. Now 4 days later the tank went from 7.0 - 5.0 ..... the only thing I can think is it's the driftwood. I'm really getting frustrated with this tank.....

I've been doing 30% water changes everyday to try to keep the ph up.. The tank only has 9 danios in it. I put a filter pad from another tank into 1 of the tanks filter for the cycle. No nitrites, no ammonia.

I cant think of anything other then the driftwood.. but the thing is I've had the driftwood in the tank before, and the ph was never that low before..

Any ideas on what could be happening?

 

[Teelie]

Driftwood can but it's usually a much slower, more gradual process than that.

 

[vancouver]

WEIRD.. I took all the fish out, as they were having serious problems when I did a big water change. Swimming upside down and in all weird.. I think the ph shock was too much for them. I took them out and let them sit in a dark room for awhile in a bucket and they seem alright so far.

Now I've got to slowly get them used to neutral water in another tank.

I put a bunch of ph up into the 75 (the tank with problems) and I will see what it's like tomorrow. I don't know if I will try the driftwood again.. I really wonder why the ph would drop that drastically... annoys me!

 

[phlawed]

WEIRD.. I took all the fish out, as they were having serious problems when I did a big water change. Swimming upside down and in all weird.. I think the ph shock was too much for them. I took them out and let them sit in a dark room for awhile in a bucket and they seem alright so far.

Now I've got to slowly get them used to neutral water in another tank.

I put a bunch of ph up into the 75 (the tank with problems) and I will see what it's like tomorrow. I don't know if I will try the driftwood again.. I really wonder why the ph would drop that drastically... annoys me!

driftwood will not have that big of an impact that fast......I would look at other factors...what else is in the tank other than the bogwood? What type of wood is it? How long did you soak it prior to putting in tank?

 

[vancouver]

It's hagen brand driftwood.. eco complete something.. It's been in tanks before and it never altered the ph.. It had been sitting out of tanks for a few weeks priod to me putting it in the tank..

There's 2 medium sized pieces in there.

 

[SiriusStarr]

Hagen brand... its probably malasian or mopani wood, which WILL lower the pH, but NOT that fast. Like the others have said, wood is a much more gradual way of lowering pH.

 

[phlawed]

what else is in the tank? substrate, fish, plants ect.....there is a reason if it is dropping like this...but we need more info....recheck your tapwater.....and tell us everything in and on your tank, co2, filters, fish, EVERYTHING!

 

[vancouver]

Someone else said when cycling the ph can drop drastically..

I tested the tap water about 3 times.. comes out at about 6.8-7.0
Tank water come out pretty close to 5. The test kit is a high range one so it's not the most accurate at times. I didn't buy it!!

The tank is 75g, I've got a fluval 4plus internal filter, and the biggest aquaclear. I put a sponge from another tanks filter into the 75g aquaclear.

No plants, only fish were 7 giant danios and 3 australian rainbows (1 giant danio died so far, so 6 as of today)

Then a few ornaments. Palm tree, skulls.

I've removed all the fish now, so I don't know.. I think I will try adding the driftwood to an empty tank and see if that lowers the ph.