Question Re: Fishless Cycle And Ph

[rebrn]

Hello, my 12 gallon tank looked like it was finally starting to head in the right direction, but for the past 4 days now it seems to have stalled with ammonia between 1-2, nitrites 0, nitrates 5, and the pH has been between 8.0 and 8.2. Just wondering if the pH being around 8 would stall the cycle. I know a low pH will do that but not sure about a high pH. If the ph is too high, how should I fix it .. with water changes or should I do something else? Again this is fishless cycling.

Thanks

Additional info - tap water tests at around 7.4 rise in tank water ph occurred after adding the ammonia. The pH came down nicely in the 5 gallon tank once ammonia started to drop to around 2ppm, however in the 12 gallon the ph is remaining high.

 

[OldMan47]

Actually, a pH of about 8 or a little more is closer to ideal than the pH I have in my tanks, in the high 7s. I seriously doubt that the cause of a slowing in the cycle is from having a good pH. The ammonia that we add, a solution of ammonium hydroxide, is somewhat basic in its very nature and gives a pH of over 8.0 if you use it in any significant amount. I have used it as a water pH control agent in an industrial setting in a highly purified water system and controlled the addition to arrive at the desired pH of around 8.2. The pH control system just required that we dial in the desired pH and it changed the addition rate to achieve that pH. The small traces we use to cycle a tank cannot usually affect the pH that much but I suppose it is possible.

 

[rebrn]

Ok well I guess the tank just needs a little more time. I just wanted to confirm that the hight pH would not be effecting the cycle. I do know that the increase in pH was definately due to the ammonia. Before adding it the pH was the same as my tap water around 7.4, then after adding it jumped to around 8. It did this in both tanks, also when I have had to redose the 5 gallon, the pH also jumps back to just under 8, but 12 hours later it retuns to 7.4 after the ammonia was processed back to 2ppm or lower. I guess the 12 gallon is just being a little more stubborn than the 5 gallon. .

Thanks for the response.

 

[rebrn]

Well I guess it just took me posting here for the tank to turn the corner. The pH in the larger tank finally came down to around 7.6, and the nitrites have finally showed up and the nitrates finally after almost a week of holding at 5 are now up to 10 Yeah I think I am finally making some progress

 

[waterdrop]

Congrats rebrn