Ph

[jsmathieson]

K I posted some thing a few days ago about pH and shrimp. well I tested my tap water again it is 7.0. (which I have done twice now and the first time it was 7.0 and last time it was 6.0 I think somehow i screwed up the last one...) my tank is less that what my test shows (below 6.0) i was started using Seachem Neutral Regulator awhile ago cause my pH went way up. I had no Idea about cycling and I think the Neutral Regulator was keeping my tank from cycling because it removes ammonia. Now that I stoped using it my tank is cycling (my fish seem to be doing ok ) I am using Prime to detoxify and now I am past the ammonia spike into the nitrire spike and I have some nitrates going on... but my ph is so low, what should I do? is this normal... Prime says it doesnt lower the pH. should I put some of the neutral regulator back in now that my tank is cycling? thanks for any help

 

[Don155]

IME if you want to add buffering to the water then baking soda is better. It's natural and doesn't affect pH too much, and doesn't remove ammonia. If your source water is on the softer side, then you need to add some buffering to stabilize the pH so that it doesn't swing on you.

What is the kH, and gH of your local water source. If your water source doesn't have the needed buffering capacity, then treat it with baking soda before adding it to the aquarium in a water change.

Also, what filter media and substrate do you use? (Peat media will soften water and lower pH) What else is in your tank that may lower pH?

here's a good article on all of this:

http/www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

HTH


P.S. Don't test your tap water pH immediately after drawing it. Draw it, treat with a little Prime, then let it sit 48 hours before testing it, that way you know what the pH is after any CO2 outgassing occurs. This way gives a more accurate reading because the water has a chance to "age" before its tested. It'll also tell you if the source is to blame for the drop in pH, or if something in the tank itself is responsible.


Don T.

 

[jsmathieson]

eek thats alot of info as far as baking soda how much should I add per gal? I am not sure about my gH or kH i just remember being told I have very soft water... I suppose I should go get a test kit for those. I am pretty sur my filter media isn't peat.. I think it might be plastic ?My tank seems to have finally cycled and I am gonna do a water change here soon so after that I will check my pH again... thanks for the info

 

[Nevernormalalwayscrazy]

Baking soda is a quick solution but does not last long, to bring your ph up you can do a 25-30% water change and in the new water add about 1 tsp per 5 gal, do this everyother day until your ph is where you want it. Check your ph about 2 hours after you do a water change. It is important to raise it slowly about .02 per 24-48 hours. If your tap is that low you may think about putting crushed coral in you filter to help buffer the water. I have also read that lava rock works good to, but these take time to affect ph I would start with the baking soda, but if you do not get something to buffer the water you will have to add baking soda every time you do a water change. Also drift wood (any type of wood really) brings ph down. Hope this helps Oh and media is whats in your filter it may be carbon (little black rock looking things in a white filter bag thingy).