Ph (tank) = 6.1 ----- Ph (tap) = 7.4

[n3ont3tra]

Please help, my PH in my tank is low, 6.15 (tested in a lab). I think that's too low for my fish, but I didn't even do anything to lower it. It's strange because the tap water PH is 7.42. I'd really like to get this fixed. What can I do?

 

[Squid]

Mine does something similar. I put mine down to the big lumps of bogwood that are in the tank... These are known to lower the PH.

Do you have any bogwood?

Squid

 

[n3ont3tra]

I only have a little bit of bogwood. One small Piece. Definately not enough to make that much of a difference.

 

[three-fingers]

The tetras should be fine with that ph, not your snail though .
Anything decaying can make the water acidic, as can nitrogenous waste. But if you keep your tank in good condition then it should not make the water drop ph like that so im stumped.
Maybe its something in the tapwater thats making it more alkaline when it comes out of the tap, but is removed using dechloriniser or just evaporation? Dunno what could do that though.....i've never heard of it before and we're just doing ph now in chemistry at school!

 

[Squid]

Have you tried testing your tapwater after about 24-48 hours. Tap water that has just come out of the tap can read a little higher than it does once the gasses have escaped. Try testing some tap water after leaving it for a day. Or give it a really big shake to help the gasses release, and then test it.

I know that doesn't help you that much, but at least my help you to understand the water issue.

Squid

 

[n3ont3tra]

Well, I take it from the tap at about 5pm and then my mom tests it at about 7am the next morning in her lab. By then it's also pretty shook up because it's been in her bag and she has to go to the bathroom like every 5 minutes and she brings her bag. So I don't think that's the issue.

I don't use dechlorinator or anything because I have well water and my mom is sure it doesn't have any chlorine or chloramine in it.

Oh, and I don't have a snail. Except the pests that reproduce like crazy.

 

[LisaLQ]

Check your KH, as low KH can cause ph swings

Dont I sound clever? I only found this out the other day!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Is that the same as Total Alkalinity? Cause I don't have a KH tester, but my Total Alkalinity was pretty low. How do I raise that?

 

[Aprilia997]

If your well water has a low natural buffering capacity the pH can drop quite quickly. I have a tank with several large fish that had not had a water change in a month or two. The fish looked normal and acted normally but I added a fish from a different tank and its whiskers were burned off very quickly, as in less than five minutes. The pH tested out in the low fives, where it comes out of the tap at 7.2.

One thing that I have found that works great is water treatment for saltwater tanks to keep the pH up. Saltwater is a natural pH of 8.2 and if you use a third of the recommended dose for a saltwater tank your pH will hold steady in the low to mid 7's. I add it to the water during water changes and it desolves completely in a couple of minutes.

 

[carpus]

your ph is fine for the fish you have listed in your sig
you could add some ro right so you dont get any ph crashes.

 

[George Farmer]

KH is another way to express alkalinity, the water's buffering capacity and is intrinsically linked to pH. Low KH = low pH.

If we introduce CO2 into the water, carbonic acid reduces pH, but KH will generally remain unaffected. So we can have a relatively high KH but lower pH, this would explain your situation.

Are you injecting CO2? If not then we can rule out that explanation.

Are you using any peat in the filter or substrate? This will bring down pH (and KH). I assume you're not using ADA Aqua Soil.

A tap pH of 7.4 gives you around 4dKH, assuming the sample has been standing for 24hrs. This should be enough to hold the pH tank at around 7 in "normal" circumstances.

How old is the tank? What water changes to you perform? Low pH can be attributed to lack of maintenance. Old substrates and filters will drive down the pH due to the acidifying organic compounds.

I would consider you are at your stocking limit (assuming the fish are adult) judging by your sig and suggest that some bigger, more frequent water changes, filter maintenance and gravel vacuuming may well see your pH up.

Have you tested for nitrates? This is a good indicator of appropriate maintenance. "Safe" levels vary but I like to see less than 30ppm personally.

 

[n3ont3tra]

KH is another way to express alkalinity, the water's buffering capacity and is intrinsically linked to pH. Low KH = low pH.

If we introduce CO2 into the water, carbonic acid reduces pH, but KH will generally remain unaffected. So we can have a relatively high KH but lower pH, this would explain your situation.

Are you injecting CO2? If not then we can rule out that explanation.

Are you using any peat in the filter or substrate? This will bring down pH (and KH). I assume you're not using ADA Aqua Soil.

A tap pH of 7.4 gives you around 4dKH, assuming the sample has been standing for 24hrs. This should be enough to hold the pH tank at around 7 in "normal" circumstances.

How old is the tank? What water changes to you perform? Low pH can be attributed to lack of maintenance. Old substrates and filters will drive down the pH due to the acidifying organic compounds.

I would consider you are at your stocking limit (assuming the fish are adult) judging by your sig and suggest that some bigger, more frequent water changes, filter maintenance and gravel vacuuming may well see your pH up.

Have you tested for nitrates? This is a good indicator of appropriate maintenance. "Safe" levels vary but I like to see less than 30ppm personally.

I don't inject CO2.
There is no peat in the tank
The tank was first set up on labor day. I added fish a week later (uncycled) There has been no ammonia or nitrite for over 2 months. My tank seemed to cycle in about 3 weeks.
I am not going to add any more fish. The plec is about 4 inches. He's going to get moved to a bigger tank in a few weeks, when he gets big enough to survive the fish in it.
I do water changes at 30% every week, with a gravel vac. My nitrates are usually about 40ppm. All tg=he fish act normally. Also, I have some PH 7 stuff that's supposed to put the PH at seven. However, it isn't recommended for use with live plants, which I have. So I don't use it. Should I?