Ph Crash Stalling Cycle?

[educated_fool]

Hi everyone.

I'm in the process of cycling a tank for a c.orientalis newt. Its a 5g long tank with sand as a substrate and some java moss and, java fern tied onto a large lump of bogwood. Approx. 6 little plantlets of java fern and around a 10" mat of java moss.

The tank has been cycling since 19/11/08 and has only recently (last 3 weeks or so) started to process the ammonia and nitrite within a 24 hr period. After putting the bogwood in the tank it became quite badly coated with algae and the ammonia processing slowed. So i did a 90% water change and as my plants arrived the same day they were planted too. This was around 2 weeks ago.

The ammonia processing is starting to slow again so i checked the pH - its down to 6.0 or below. I wondered if I should add some baking soda to bring the pH up until the tank is cycled? I would like to keep the bogwood in the tank, if I do so and the pH drops back down to 6.0 after the tank is cycled will it affect the bacteria in my tank?


Kirsty

 

[rdd1952]

A pH that low would definitely stall (ore severely slow) the cycling process. You can add baking soda to buffer the water so that the pH stays more stable. Is your tank a 5 gallon or is that a typo?

 

[educated_fool]

A pH that low would definitely stall (ore severely slow) the cycling process. You can add baking soda to buffer the water so that the pH stays more stable. Is your tank a 5 gallon or is that a typo?

No its not a typo my tank is unfortunately only a 5 gallon. Ill get some baking soda tomorrow to add to the tank. Is there a certain amount you should add per gallon?

Once the tank is fully cycled though will a pH that low affect the bacteria present in the filter?


Kirsty

 

[rdd1952]

I've never used it before (used crushed coral which is another option that is longer term) but have read that 1tsp per 10 gallons will rise the pH about a half a point (6 to 6.5). Not sure how accurate that is but I am certain that t willdepend on what your current GH & KH are although I would assume yours are low, thus the pH drop. Since you don't have nything in the tank, it's not a real big issue as you don't have to worry about a large swing and it's effect on fish. Once the tan is cycled, a low pH isnt necessarily a problem, mainly depending on the fish you keep.

 

[educated_fool]

Its a newt ill be keeping in it. not fish. But that doesn't really affect the water parameters that I need to keep it healthy.

I've had a look into crushed coral - it looks like the newt could fit it in its mouth so that's a no no. But the coral sand looks like a good option. If I used this as a substrate would it possibly make the pH go too high, like over 8?

Alternatively are there any aquarium safe woods that i could use instead of bogwood?

Who knew a tiny tank like this could get so complicated!

 

[waterdrop]

The fishless cycle will stall/stop at about pH=6.2 and the cycling process will push the pH down to this much more quickly if your carbonate hardness (buffering) is low (KH below about 4 degrees.)

Kitchen baking soda (not baking powder) is a fast flexible way to raise both KH and pH during fishless cycling, whereas crushed coral is the approach to take after you have fish, but only after you have determined you really need to do that after fish. The baking soda just goes down the drain with the big water change before fish.

I agree that 1 teaspoon would be fine to start with and then you can adjust based on measurements. A KH kit helps you to get the feel for what you're doing with greater understanding than just using pH.

After the filter is cycled and you are into normal operation (with newt/fish), you should see whether the tap pH will stay up ok via water changes, as normal operation will push the pH down less than cycling. Its also always superior to stick with your tap water for this rather than have to go to additives.

If you do end up needing to go with the crushed coral, the way to do it is in the filter, not in the substrate, and ideally inside a small mesh bag to make it easy to remove (since its always nice to be able to remove anything that changes the chemistry of the water. Its also nice to be able to pull the bag out and clean the coral off to help it be more effective. You should always start with a small amount, a small palmful, and expect it to take 2 or 3 weeks before you see its full effect.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[educated_fool]

I see. I'll pick up a GH + KH test kit tomorrow along with the baking soda then. Hopefully I can get the tank cycled quickly so I can see how the water parameters go in normal operation.

Once I get the kit ill post the parameters of my tap water and the tank water to compare.

As I only have a small tank I have a small Fluval 1 internal filter. If I had to, would it be ok to put the crushed coral in a bag in there?

Thanks for your help!



Kirsty

 

[waterdrop]

When you get your kit its the KH that will be the most important to post up and usually we work with the "german degrees of hardness" scale. Post up both your tap and tank levels and there should always be members on that can help.

Yes, it'll be much harder to fit it into a small filter but you'll just have to see what you can do. You obviously don't want to lose too much biomedia.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rdd1952]

You put the crushed coral in the filter with the media, not in the tank. That way all the water passes over it and no danger of it being ingested. Coral sand will most likely boost your pH well into the 8s. Not sure what type pH a newt needs.