Help With Ph Quick

[MrWhite]

just added some plants and pebbles to my tank then just done a test yesterday my ph was 6.4 today its 7.4 is this a problem i have 2 kribs 1 bala 1 redfin ?

 

[rdd1952]

What type pebbles did you add? Some rocks can severely raise your pH. Did you do a fizz test on them first?

 

[three-fingers]

It's not a problem for those fish, but your probably better off checking the stones next time.

Put vinegar on them and if they bubble a bit, then they will raise the pH.

 

[MrWhite]

just took them out and done a water change added all my plants and pebbles my ammonia was 0.50 so i done a 55% water change done another test using api master kit and i dunno if its 0 or 0.25 now ?

 

[three-fingers]

Well if you had 0.5ppm, did a 55% water change and its now 0-0.25ppm that males perfect sense.
Are you cycling? I would be adding some seachem prime or similar and do daily water changes to keep on top of ammonia toxicity to the fish.
If you have any mature media in any tanks, or can get your hand on some, that would help.

 

[MrWhite]

ok thank god i was worried i did get some mature media but wouldnt go in my filter i would love some though but dont no any1 who would give me any is prime declor if so i have some but its not prime its fresh start by interpet i use it every water change i do ive been doing 30% water change every day but missed 1 yesterday also my declor is gonna run out what do u recommend i buy for a new 1

yesterdays readings was

Ammonia 0

nitrIte 0

nitrAte 0

ph 6.4

todays readings after adding 6 new plants and pebbles that i have just took out also after doing a 55% water change as my ammonia was 0.50

Ammonia 0-0.25

nitrIte 0

nitrAte 5 i think or 0 not sure these colour charts are hard to read

ph 7.6

is there any problems here i was just worried as its the 1st time i have had this much ammonia and also my ph changed quick. my tanks been setup since the 8th jan ive been adding filter booster aswell on 1st and 7th day of my setup and also again on the 14th

 

[rdd1952]

If you have ammonia, then removing the stones (if they aused the pH rise) would be a good idea as ammonia becomes more toxic at higher pH levels (temperature also a factor). Our test kits measure Total Ammonia which is ammonia (toxic) and ammonuim (non-toxic). As pH level rises so does the percentage of toxic ammonia. According to this chart, at a temperature of 79F, there is approximately 8 times as much toxic ammonia at a pH of 7.4 than at 6.5.

 

[three-fingers]

Did you cycle the tank at all, or is that what your doing now?

Get some seachem prime, they are both dechlorinators, but seachem prime appaers to do more than interpet fresh start (like detoxify ammonia and nitrite while still leaving it available to the filter bacteria).

If the mature media doesnt fit in your filter, cut it up and squeeze it in. If you cant even do that, try to shove it behind the filter intake or something.

 

[MrWhite]

I want my ph to go back down do u think it rised due to me adding the pebbles ? i have took them out will this take my ph back to 6.4 or around that area in a few hours ?

and i had the tank running for 5 days then added 4 small hardys not adding any fish now for about 5-6 weeks but been doing constant water changes also my LFS said i dont need to do them everyday cos i will be removin good bacteria out of the water that will be building up he said just do them once a week and also he said i dont have to test my water everyday as its a waist of test kits but i still do daily tests and water changes anyway but the guys at m LFS are very good they are verywell known for there quality and experience so i didnt no what to belive but im going with what you guys say

 

[rdd1952]

First, the person/persons at the LFS are idiots. There are no (or only a miniscule amount) good bacteria in the water so the LFS has told you trash (not a big shock). The bacteria attach to the decor and walls of the tank but mainly to the filter media where the most food (ammonia and nitrite) pass by. Therefore the vast majority of the beneficail bacteria are in the filter. When people talk about cycling a tank, technically, you are cycling the filter.

Also, you have to test daily so you know what your tank is doing. Testing and changing water once a week in a cycling tank equals dead fish, hence, they get to sell you more. Water changes are mandatory in a cycling tank to keep the toxins (ammonia and nitrite) at levels that won't harm the fish. You really want to keep the levels at or below about .25 ppm. And contrary to popular belief, the tank won't cycle faster with high levels of ammonia. The lower the levels are kept, the quicker it will cycle.

Now for the rocks. If that is all you added to the tank, then it's probably what caused the rise. Simply put a drop or 2 of vinegar on them. if they fizz and bubble, then they will raise your pH.

 

[MrWhite]

thanks rdd i will be doing the water changes and test everyday anyway as i have been taking everyones advice on here on board thanks for the reply