Ph Dropped To 5.5

[the biffster]

no need to strip and clean for an outbrake Planaria Worms. just vac the graval and cut back on feeding
this shows that you are over feeding or food is not getting eaten they are harmless and fish will eat them


good luck biff

 

[wolfwolf]

What is the kH and gH in your tank and tap water? I believe aeration makes the pH drop? Could your tap water have gotten softer?

 

[st24rsap]

no need to strip and clean for an outbrake Planaria Worms. just vac the graval and cut back on feeding
this shows that you are over feeding or food is not getting eaten they are harmless and fish will eat them


good luck biff

i dont think it was due to over feeding, just un eaten food and gunk in the bottom of the juwel filter box and when i cleaned the box most of the gunk etc went into the tank. it is a plec tank who are mostly fed on fresh fruit and veg, only occasionally use aglea wafers of pellets as they dont really touch them

the planaria problem is now sorted but the ph and ammonia problems are the concern now

What is the kH and gH in your tank and tap water? I believe aeration makes the pH drop? Could your tap water have gotten softer?

i will be measuring the tank and tap water kh and gh in about half hour so will post the results. i have increased the aeration a lot lately as its a breeding tank and lack of oxygen was suggested as a possible cause for the fry dying

 

[st24rsap]

i have just tested my tank water in the breeding tank and tap water and got the following results
tests were done using tetratest 5 in 1 sticks, not accurate i know but only thing i have for testing GH KH. not sure what the reading stand for though

tap water
GH - between <3 & >6
KH - 0

tank water
GH - between <3 & >6
KH - 0

 

[st24rsap]

came down this morning to find 1 of my adult male bn plecs dead in his cave

think i will be moving the remaining 3 tonight to my comunity tank and start again with the breeding tank

Mr. Plec

 

[wolfwolf]

If your kH is 0 your pH will be able to swing wildly. kH is the buffer that keeps pH stable. You need to do something to get your kH to at least 3. I use a product called Kent Stable. I have to add it about once a week but it is easy enough to do. It is just a powder that youi measure, dilute in water, and add to the tank. There are other way to increase kH but I don't know them.

http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/197898/product.web

 

[st24rsap]

If your kH is 0 your pH will be able to swing wildly. kH is the buffer that keeps pH stable. You need to do something to get your kH to at least 3. I use a product called Kent Stable. I have to add it about once a week but it is easy enough to do. It is just a powder that youi measure, dilute in water, and add to the tank. There are other way to increase kH but I don't know them.

[URL="http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/197898/product.web"]http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/197898/product.web[/URL]

a lot of people have bneen suggesting coral sand or shells so im off to the lfs in a moment to see what they have. i have never measured the KH GH in my tap water before as i have never had an issue with PH untill the last few weeks but i will also get a liquid test kit for testing them both whilst i am there

 

[st24rsap]

went to the lfs and got some coral sand, they didnt have any coral or limestone, also bout an api gh/kh test kit but by the time i got home the 3 remaining plecs were all dead, checked the ph and it had dropped below 3 so the tank is now completely screwed with no fish in it

totally gutted is an understatement

 

[backtotropical]

Sorry to hear of your losses.

I can say with almost total certainty that the fluctuating pH is to blame, but you now have the solution in your grasp.

Add a handful of coral sand to the tank, just scatter it into the existing substrate. Wait a few days and then test the pH. Repeat as necessary until the pH is at the desired level. It is important to do this slowly as putting too much in will buffer your pH too high and you will struggle to get it down again, without removing the coral sand.

Good luck.

BTT

 

[st24rsap]

Sorry to hear of your losses.

I can say with almost total certainty that the fluctuating pH is to blame, but you now have the solution in your grasp.

Add a handful of coral sand to the tank, just scatter it into the existing substrate. Wait a few days and then test the pH. Repeat as necessary until the pH is at the desired level. It is important to do this slowly as putting too much in will buffer your pH too high and you will struggle to get it down again, without removing the coral sand.

Good luck.

BTT

Cheers BTT, i almost feel like giving up on it now but im not going to. put too much time, effort and money into the breeding tank not to get it right so looks like im basically starting from scratch now with an uncycled tank

 

[wolfwolf]

Sorry about your fish.

 

[st24rsap]

cheers mate, annoyed with myself for not being able to do more. this is the first time i have ever had a problem with my tanks so didnt know what to do, should have transfered the fish as soon as i found the problem but didnt realise how big a problem it was going to be

thanks to everyone who has helped me and made any suggestion or given advice, it has been greatfully apreciated