Ph Keeps Going Low

[navvet8992]

i have a 55 gallon with 8 small angels 4 guppies and 3 cory cats. my ph has been around 6.4 until a few days ago. i added live plants and the angels 3 days ago and the ph keeps going down to 6.0 (lowest level on the api test kit). amm. is 0, nitrites -0 nitrates around 20. fish seem fine but is this a problem? i did a 25% water change last night and got the ph up to 6.6 but 12 hrs. later it is back down to 6.0, the only thing i can figure out is it is the live plants using the minerals in the water which is dropping the ph. should i use crushed coral to slowly raise it? if so how much to raise it to around 6.6? i know angels like acidic water but dont feel comfortable with it at 6.0 (dont want to jeopardize the biofilter). my tap ph is 7.5. any ideas?

 

[waterdrop]

How long has the tank been running, what method did you use to cycle it and what method to confirm that the cycle was complete?

Most of the processes in tanks will tend to drive the pH down but the tank will resist if there is enough alkalinity. To test that you need a KH (Carbonate Hardness) kit, which usually has to be found online. Its true that crushed coral is the best method for gently raising KH (and thus stabilizing pH) long term but its best to have quite an extensive dialog here first to understand your problem and be really sure its needed before you take such an action.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[navvet8992]

How long has the tank been running, what method did you use to cycle it and what method to confirm that the cycle was complete?

Most of the processes in tanks will tend to drive the pH down but the tank will resist if there is enough alkalinity. To test that you need a KH (Carbonate Hardness) kit, which usually has to be found online. Its true that crushed coral is the best method for gently raising KH (and thus stabilizing pH) long term but its best to have quite an extensive dialog here first to understand your problem and be really sure its needed before you take such an action.

~~waterdrop~~

i did a fish in cycle and tank is about 5 weeks old, it cycled a week ago. i test daily and have had 0 amm., nitrites for 7 straight days now. nitrates are about 20. my public water report states a hardness of 80 which translates to about 4.5 degrees. any ideas or suggestions?

 

[waterdrop]

Good, sounds like you did a good job confirming your cycle and you know what you are doing. The filter is still very young and will be adding to the processes that drive the KH and pH down. Still, it sure sounds like you might benefit from the use of crushed coral. Its found in the LFS is usually rather large bags. Ideally you should put it in nylon mesh bags so that you can change your mind and take it back out later and so that you can get it out to clean it more easily. It clogs up with bacteria and debris often more quickly than other things and needs to be kept clean (via tap water rinses) or it will not do its thing of slowly diffusing into the water. Its best to start with a small handful and work up, unless your tank is very big. Its more effective if you can find room in your filter for the bags, but you can also, less effectively, bury them under the deeper substrate at the back of the tank. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to see any effect, which can really take some patience.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[navvet8992]

Good, sounds like you did a good job confirming your cycle and you know what you are doing. The filter is still very young and will be adding to the processes that drive the KH and pH down. Still, it sure sounds like you might benefit from the use of crushed coral. Its found in the LFS is usually rather large bags. Ideally you should put it in nylon mesh bags so that you can change your mind and take it back out later and so that you can get it out to clean it more easily. It clogs up with bacteria and debris often more quickly than other things and needs to be kept clean (via tap water rinses) or it will not do its thing of slowly diffusing into the water. Its best to start with a small handful and work up, unless your tank is very big. Its more effective if you can find room in your filter for the bags, but you can also, less effectively, bury them under the deeper substrate at the back of the tank. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to see any effect, which can really take some patience.

~~waterdrop~~

ok should i put it in the back of the filter box (i have 2 marineland biofilter 350). START OUT WITH A HANDFULL AND GO FROM THERE?

 

[waterdrop]

Wherever you can. Observe your filter operation carefully and make sure you don't reduce its flow. Your filter is young so perhaps only do some in the filter (ie. don't take too much biomedia out) and some elsewhere in the tank. Its a 55g, so perhaps more than a small handful if you have places.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[navvet8992]

just added a 1/2 cup in a mesh bag and put the crushed coral in the back of the filter. This will gradually raise the ph and help to maintain it?

 

[waterdrop]

be reminded of the level of slowness and patience we're talking about here - it can take 2 to 3 weeks to see it do something (but it might be sooner) and even then this initial amount might be too little and you'll want to slowly increase it. Also be aware that if your carbonate hardness is low, it may use up most of its effect raising that first before it can raise pH. That's the way it works, KH must be up at maybe 4 before pH will start to rise. If you go a couple weeks and are very frustrated that pH levels are still extremely low, then work in another half cup I'd say.

 

[navvet8992]

great info. thanks alot for your input. will do.