Ph Problem During Cycling

[P&J]

I've been cycling fishlessly for a while, but it keeps stalling because of low Ph.

I discovered on 2/6 that my Ph was down at about 6, so I did a 60% water change and my cycle was in full swing again. Yesterday (2/10) I noticed my cycle stalling again, so I tested the Ph again today and it's back down to 6 again. In fact, it could be even lower, that's just the lowest reading on my chart.

My tap water Ph is at about 7.4, so I'll do another big change to get things going again. Any idea why it keeps dropping so fast? I read on the fishless cycling thread that the ammonia would raise the Ph, not lower it.

-P

 

[rdd1952]

Ammonia can be all over the place during cycling. You have no buffering capacity (common with municipal water supplies) thus nothing to keep the pH stable. High nitrate will tend to lower the pH (the same thing that happens in old tank syndrome). Do you have any driftwood in the tank? That will tend to lower the pH. You could put a small amount of crushed coral in the tank or in you filter to bolster the buffering capacity or add a little bicarb of soda to do the same thing.

 

[P&J]

Thanks for the info. Should I expect the same once the cycle is over and I have fish in there?

-P

 

[rdd1952]

You will probably see it drop from the tap pH but it should be as drastic since the nitrate level should be considerably lower than during a fishless cycle.