I have no clue how quickly these PH crashes happen but I am wondering if I am headed there. Tank stats 20 gallon with 6 adult mollies and 2 juvenile mollies. Temp is 78. Parameters are 0, 0, 40. Regular readings. Gravel substrate, no live plants. 25% water changes done weekly as well as gravel cleaning and filter rinse every 2 weeks. Nothing changed here. No recent additions within last couple of weeks and no changes to what is added. Just dechlorinator and a small amount of salt. Anyway, about 4 weeks ago PH was 6.8. My normal. Then 2 weeks ago it read 6.6. Wasn't too concerned as I know this can fluctuate slightly. Now My PH is 6.4. This registered with a reading prior to this last water change and then also after. I have not tested my tap water to see where the PH is standing there. I will do that tonight when I get home and if the PH in there is my normal I will do a large water change. Any ideas what is going on? Need some other ideas to look at. Thanks guys!
Possible Looming Ph Crash?
- Thread starter DyArianna
- Start date
TwoTankAmin
Fish Maniac
Do not simply fill your test vial from the tap and test as you most likely will not get an accurate result. When water comes out of the tap it is often either deficient in co2 or else it has too much co2. In the former case this raises the pH and in the latter it lowers it. One the water gets into the tank the pH balances back to its natural level and this allows the water to settle at its actual level.
Therefore to get an accurate reading one needs to let the co2 level balance out. Doing this is easy. Fill a large glass or a small pitcher with tap (make sure the container is clean). Put an airstone into it and let it bubble for an hour or so and then test.
The other thing you need to find out is what your KH level is. KH is what keeps pH stable. If your KH levels are low this may explain things. Most places that sell fish can test this if you bring in a sample which saves having to buy a KH test kit.
Finally, water companies do manipulate pH to foster more effective treatment. So it is possible your pH has actually changed in terms of what is coming out of the tap.
Finally, if one is on their own well water it is possible that the amount of recent rain or lack thereof can alter one's water params. Mine can range from 57 ppm to 83 ppm TDS out of the tap. I have water super charged with co2 that must outgas. It comes from the tap in the 6.0 range but settles out at around 7.0- 7.2.
Therefore to get an accurate reading one needs to let the co2 level balance out. Doing this is easy. Fill a large glass or a small pitcher with tap (make sure the container is clean). Put an airstone into it and let it bubble for an hour or so and then test.
The other thing you need to find out is what your KH level is. KH is what keeps pH stable. If your KH levels are low this may explain things. Most places that sell fish can test this if you bring in a sample which saves having to buy a KH test kit.
Finally, water companies do manipulate pH to foster more effective treatment. So it is possible your pH has actually changed in terms of what is coming out of the tap.
Finally, if one is on their own well water it is possible that the amount of recent rain or lack thereof can alter one's water params. Mine can range from 57 ppm to 83 ppm TDS out of the tap. I have water super charged with co2 that must outgas. It comes from the tap in the 6.0 range but settles out at around 7.0- 7.2.
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