Mature Filter Crash :(

[bronzecat]

Hi

Have had an Aquastart 500 (16gals) set up and cycled for a couple of months now. However, suddenly the filter crashed, ammonia sky high, nitrItes rocketing. Stock removed sharpish, however some didn't make it. Been trying to get it back on track, but the amm and nitrIte will not budge

Now, my tap water Ph has consistantly been 7.4 for as long as i remember. Not any more, 6.0 out the tap Hardness way below 4 too. No wonder the tank wont settle.

So, does anyone have any ideas on a good way to raise the Hardness and Ph? I have the option of using RO and then buffering it up each water change with RO Right. Would like it back to around 7.4 if i can.

Cheers

 

[Fowlersrs]

Hi

Have had an Aquastart 500 (16gals) set up and cycled for a couple of months now. However, suddenly the filter crashed, ammonia sky high, nitrItes rocketing. Stock removed sharpish, however some didn't make it. Been trying to get it back on track, but the amm and nitrIte will not budge

Now, my tap water Ph has consistantly been 7.4 for as long as i remember. Not any more, 6.0 out the tap Hardness way below 4 too. No wonder the tank wont settle.

So, does anyone have any ideas on a good way to raise the Hardness and Ph? I have the option of using RO and then buffering it up each water change with RO Right. Would like it back to around 7.4 if i can.

Cheers

Well I use chiclid salts to buffer my kh and ph, what fish are you keeping though? this could be a solution for you?!

 

[Smoothy]

My ph out the tap used to be 8.0 ... just lately it's been 6.6!

Hope it won't cause too many problems when it comes to getting fish

Hope you get it sorted

 

[Athena]

I think using coral gravel raises the Ph - that's if you fancy adding some into your current substrate - and you would need to test after adding a thin layer, and add more as necessary.

Then again, you might not want to change the look of your substrate - but it's just another idea to bear in mind.

Athena

 

[pauly]

It's probably more your Kh you want to improve (stops the Ph from changing). Short term measure is adding a teaspoon of bicarb to your fresh water during water changes. A handful of crushed corel in your filter will improve it over the longer term.

Pauly.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

Thanks for the replies

It used to house our Dwarf puffers until this incident, but obviously empty at present. Been feeding the tank though.

We have two choices - Leave at ph 6 and use it for female bettas, as they are ok in 6, or as i have an ro unit for my marines, i could use ro and buffer it up to what ph i want. It makes the water changes take a bit longer though.

Its weird that its just this tank that the filter crashed in?? I think i'll try upping the Kh like you advise and at least get the filter cycled, then use the buffered RO route just to be on the safe side.

Cheers

 

[PRW1988]

The Ph and hardness of the water only effects some species. Most species in the aquarium trade now a days are highly adaptive. 6.0 shouldn't be a problem, especially when your tank has 7.4 in it already.