Newly Cycled Tank Ph Dropping

[Doogz]

So finally completed our cycle last week. Added some bogwood, mopani wood and a few plants. Added stock 2 days ago. Did a water test last night and PH has dropped to around 6. After a 50% water change it is now at 6.4, tap water is around 7-7.2.

Ammonia and nitrite are both 0, nitrate is 10ppm. Any ideas why the sudden crash? I'm planning on doing another 50% change later today which by my math should increase it to around 6.8. I'm hoping the sudden change won't upset the fish?

Fish are happy, danios loving the fluval filter output (especially with venturi), the tiger barbs colours already starting to show. The bristlenose hasn't been seen eating yet, but is happily darting about the cracks and crevices

Any suggestions to help raise the PH slowly without massive water changes?

 

[Aqua Tom]

Probably the bogwood & mopani wood. Both will lower Ph.

 

[Whitey_144]

Probably the bogwood & mopani wood. Both will lower Ph.

these do, but not a massive drastic change i think.

have oyu tested your tap water straight from tap and after 24hrs. carbon dioxide in the water leaves and the PH usually goes up slightly.

what are you GH & KH levels. how hard is your water? the way i see it the higher the KH, the more stable the PH.

 

[Doogz]

Probably the bogwood & mopani wood. Both will lower Ph.

these do, but not a massive drastic change i think.

have oyu tested your tap water straight from tap and after 24hrs. carbon dioxide in the water leaves and the PH usually goes up slightly.

what are you GH & KH levels. how hard is your water? the way i see it the higher the KH, the more stable the PH.

I hadn't thought about leaving tap water overnight, will try that tonight. Have just done another 50% water change so hopefully I'll have a good base to work off tomorrow.

I don't know my GH & KH levels, had tested them with a strip test and they were all in 'Ok' range, should probably buy a better test kit for that. Though the water round here is as soft as it gets.

Only other thing I can think of is ferts, I added love fish aquarium fertiliser (think that's the right name), but reading up that should, if anything, raise the PH.