Ph Crash, Please Help

[Jazee B]

I have been out today and purchased a KH and GH testing kit. I had to get a Nutrafin test kit as they didn't have any API's.

The GH test kit came out at 200 which is right at the top of the moderately high section (101-200) over 200 is classed as very hard.

The KH test came out as 100mg/L which in the description say excellent buffer capacity.??!!

I was hoping someone would be able to tell me what to do next as all this is completely confusing me. My pH dropped to 6.5 again today so I've done another 50% water change and added a tablespoon of baking soda.

I'm still doing my fishless cycle, my ammonia is cycling in 12 hours but my nitrite is still high and hasn't dipped yet.

Thanks in advance for your help, becky

 

[Miss Wiggle]

not sure on the conversion from mg/l to dkh but it certainly sounds like your KH is just fine, which is very curious as the pH keeps dropping. are those readings from the tap water or the tank water?

can you give us details of all the decor etc in the tank incase there's anything that's tinkering with this all

 

[rabbut]

As with Miss Wiggle, I can't work with hardness measured in ppm, I need it in dKH before it makes sence

You usualy want about 4-8dKH in a tank with fish, to prevent pH swings, but not raise the pH through the roof. You however are fishless cycling, thus you will want the hardness higher, as nitrate is going to rise above "normal" levels, and it is acidic and thus will pull the pH down. For a fishless cycle, I'd look to get the KH to arround 12-20dKH, to prevent the pH dropping. The ammonnt of KH you need will depend on what your nitrates are running at

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Jazee B]

Sorry about all the confusion, I have found a converter online and 110 ppm equals 6.16 dKH. The readings were for my tap water, do you want readings from my tank?

 

[Jazee B]

Sorry about all the confusion, I have found a converter online and 110 ppm equals 6.16 dKH. The readings were for my tap water, do you want readings from my tank?

I've just dome the usual test on my tank water:

pH level - 8-8.5
Nitrite - 1.6mg/l (ish)
Nitrate - 110mg/l
KH - 130 mg/l or 7.28 dKH

The only things I have in my tank are 4 plants and a chunk of bogwood.

I never realised there was so much to this hobby, but I won't give in, I'm a taurus (starsign) and we are stubborn!!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

take the bogwood out and see what happens. it can send down pH but i wouldn't expect it to have such a severe effect on it

 

[andshimmy]

The only things I have in my tank are 4 plants and a chunk of bogwood.

I just had a pH crash in my tank that has been running stable for a year. pH (and KH) weren't something I tested for, so my fish got sick and my filter stalled before I knew what was going on. Lost a fish, so it was a tough lesson. I found out that plants lower the pH due to the production of CO2 during the night hours; and bogwood leaches tannins which are acidic, and will lower the pH. All biological processes want to use up the kH, and bring pH down over time. Out came the bogwood. It was a horrible situation to get out of, because there was now ammonia in the tank, and I had to get the water buffered without taking the pH high enough to cause the ammonia to be toxic. My soft water is a pain. Anyway, I'm also doing a fishless cycle on another tank - so I'll be taking the advice here to buffer it up to ~20 dh (german degrees KH). My main tank is currently at 7 dh, ph7, still soft but better than 0. Buys me more time I reckon.

 

[OldMan47]

Resurrection.

 

[andshimmy]

Resurrection.

Oh well, exposed as a brainless idiot 5 posts into my existance here. Sorry!

 

[discus_lover]

about ph control you may read this article from my blog...
http/discusfishcaresecrets.blogspot.com/...r-aquarium.html