How Is This Happening?

[Nosphaer]

Hi, everyone. I've had my tank set up with fish in it for what has be a month and a half, at least. Things have been relatively well, and I've had a handful of rough discoveries that led to a bit more knowledge and understanding.

What I'm getting to is simple: the trend of very acidic water in my tank is persistent, and never fails!

I've measured it at 6.0, or even potentially lower, for quite some time now, and I can't say that I want it too far into an extreme, for the fish I want to care for.

My guess is also simple: Mopani wood.

It has been in the tank from the start, so I can't plot it on a timeline as if it's a new addition to the tank. I have two small, yet not at all tiny, pieces of the wood. The pieces are about 3 inches across, in thickness, and about a foot long each. They have most certainly granted the water slight cloudiness, and a really noticeable tea-like tint.

I wouldn't put any stock in this visual effect, aside from my knowledge that it helps the fish cope with light. However, it is all I can imagine that causes the areas 7.5 pH water to plummet in levels to 6-.

It has claimed my two snails by eroding at their shells and causing them to collapse, internally... I know that the rasboras and shrimp I have are prone to liking slight acidity, or even more extreme levels of acidity, but I want to know of the source of such, regardless.

(EDIT) - for the record, I do 50-60% water changes weekly and, in rare occasions, bi-weekly.

 

[paulyoung666]

Take the wood out then , would be surprised if it is the problem though ......

 

[Ruskull]

It would seem to be easiest to just take the wood out for a week or two & see what the readings are.

I had something similar happen a while back. My tap water was 7.4-7.6 pH and yet my tanks were much lower like, 7.0 & 6.8. I have a few pieces in each & I assume that having many small pieces rather than one large piece might contribute to the pH lowering more drastically. The Mollys we used to have didn't take too well to the pH drop especially.

Anyway, I checked with the local water supply webpage & they said they were doing some sort of change to the additives:

"Johnston County Water Supply Notice

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

The Johnston County Water Supply System will temporarily stop feeding ammonia in combination with chlorine for disinfection of the public water supply and feed chlorine only beginning on or about February 22, 2010, for approximately six weeks. State and Federal regulations require that public water systems feed chlorine for at least three weeks per year to insure that no bacteria are present which may have adapted to the ammonia in the water. Customers who use kidney dialysis machines or who have tropical fish should be aware that the water will contain more chlorine during this period and then will return to a chlorine and ammonia mixture (chloramine) on or about April 4, 2010.

Johnston County supplies water to many county residents and businesses including the Towns of Four Oaks, Princeton, Kenly, Wilson's Mill, and Clayton; private utilities including Aqua NC and Carolina Water Service; and all Johnston County water districts. Supplemental supply is provided to the Towns of Pine Level, Benson, Selma, and Fuquay-Varina. Citizens served by private wells will not be affected. Johnston County has used a combination of ammonia and chlorine since September 1996 for disinfection of the public water supply to reduce the level of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, a series of chemicals formed when water is disinfected using chlorine.

Most customers will not experience any difference in their water, but some may notice a stronger chlorine taste or odor and may observe minor changes in color in their water. If you experience a color change which cannot be cleared by flushing the lines in your house or business, or if you have questions, please call the number on your water bill for clarification. If you have other concerns about this change, please call Johnston County Public Utilities at 989-5075."

 

[Nosphaer]

Interesting and helpful advice. Thanks, you two. I'll go ahead and try to pluck out the driftwood and monitor change before and after a water change.

Is there a safe, low-stress way of going about removing the logs that won't horribly terrify the fish? I only really have the logs as hiding spots, not that any fish except for my kuhli use it. I know that the shrimp are fond of the log as well.

 

[paulyoung666]

Do it sloooooooowwwwwwwlllllllyyyyy ......

 

[OldMan47]

Where do you find acidic water in California? I lived near LA and San Diego for many years and never saw tap water at less than about 7.6 pH. The darned semi-solid stuff coming in from the Colorado river ran close to 1000ppm of TDS. Yes that is 1000, not 100.
What are you using to make your measurements? That might be your problem.