Ph Levels

[rsands]

Hi,

i changed to diy mix in the co2 system instead of the premade ones and it is definately better, my PH has went from the tap 7.2 to 6.4

I have tetras, platys, swordtails, dwarf gouramis but i am worried about the ph getting too low? api kit said 6.2...hagen said 6.6 in two different kits (normal and bromo blue one)

What should i do? or is it ok?


Thanks

 

[ziggyboy]

Put crushed corals in your filter but play it by ear (so to speak). You don't want to put too much because they'll eventually buffer your PH to the mid 7's. It took me 2 weeks to maintain the balance of corals and 15 ppm of CO2. My 220L/55G tank has about 2 handfulls of corals in my canister to maintain the PH at 7.0.

 

[Dave Spencer]

What should i do? or is it ok?
Thanks

Have a look at your fish. Are they OK?

If the answer is yes, then do nothing. The pH on all three of my tanks is down at 6 and the fish have no problems with it. A pH of 7 is not some magical good for all fish number.

Dave.

 

[nry]

I agree with Dave, unless the fish are not happy, leave things as they are.

 

[rsands]

the fish seem fine...i cant see any signs of un-normal behaviour...they just doing their usual swimming around and digging up my sand

so should i just leave it?

what should i look out for if i need to adjust the ph levels? would coral sand do the same thing as crushed coral?

 

[nry]

Probably, but the issue is more maintaining a stable pH than overly worrying about what level it is. Messing with your pH can cause more problems than it would possibly solve.

 

[rsands]

i tested it again and the results are still reading the same...i will let it be and keep an eye on it. can the fish just get use to that ph level then?

 

[SuperColey1]

I would think youare nearer the 6.6 if your normal is 7.2

Co2 from DIY wouldn't lower it more than 1 I wouldn't have thought anyway but I'm no expert.

My normal is 7.2 and with CO2 is 6.4 and as the above posters say, it is nothing to worry about as it will stay reasonably stable and even if the Co2 were to run out while you wre on holiday, it would take time to rise again and wouldnt be instant so it would be just like acclimatising when you buy fish and put them into your tank.

I wouldnt mess about with things trying to adjust the ph as if you get it wrong and it swings quickly you could be faced with a dead fishload!

andy

 

[rsands]

ok i checked again and with my new ei dosing, co2 and lighting the ph level has dropped to 6...the api test kit cant read any lower ... should i just let it be or what should i do now?

However i just tested using the hagens low range test kit with bromo blue (the one i use for the drop checker) and it reads 6.6

Cant understand how two test kits show such large differences in readings

Thanks