how do u keep your pH stable?? my pH keeps falling - Aquarium Advice

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 09:12 PM

i was wondering, do any of you use/do anything to keep your pH stable?

I had driftwood in my tank.
I removed it, because the tannins kept leaching, causing my pH to fall.

But, even with the driftwood Gone, my pH keeps falling.

Is there anything I can do to keep it stable and buffered?

**Fishyfanatic** · 07-21-2005, 09:26 PM

What is the hardness in the tank?

Jchillin · 07-21-2005, 09:34 PM

Sounds like your on your way to a [acronym:f22ec5ba0b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:f22ec5ba0b] crash. If you don't have a test kit to find out what your hardness is, doing a water change can help temporarily.

You need to know the hardness in order to figure out what is needed to buffer the water or to determine if that is the problem.

How long has the tank been set up and what was the highest and lowest [acronym:f22ec5ba0b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:f22ec5ba0b] readings?

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 09:35 PM

i'm not sure...
i'll test it now
i'll check ...one sec

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 09:48 PM

i have a low [acronym:128ede7b6e="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:128ede7b6e] = <50

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jchillin

Sounds like your on your way to a [acronym:905fdfdc05="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:905fdfdc05] crash. If you don't have a test kit to find out what your hardness is, doing a water change can help temporarily.

You need to know the hardness in order to figure out what is needed to buffer the water or to determine if that is the problem.

How long has the tank been set up and what was the highest and lowest [acronym:905fdfdc05="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:905fdfdc05] readings?

my pH is usually 7.6
but today its 7.0

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 09:50 PM

is it possible that ALL the buffer is "used up" ??

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 09:54 PM

is it possible that there is still driftwood remains and tannis in the aquarium...
causing the pH to constantly fall ??

Jchillin · 07-21-2005, 09:56 PM

There is a condition called "Old Tank Syndrome" which could cause a [acronym:e245d3b38a="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:e245d3b38a] crash (that's what "used up" really means).

You didn't say how long your tank has been set up, which could eliminate "Old Tank Syndrome".

Have you ever tested your tap water? Leave a glass of water out overnight and test it. I assume by <50, you mean @4-5 [acronym:e245d3b38a="Degrees of carbonate hardness"]dkh[/acronym:e245d3b38a], which isn't too bad.

Bubble_B0y · 07-21-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jchillin

There is a condition called "Old Tank Syndrome" which could cause a [acronym:5a525b2c64="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:5a525b2c64] crash (that's what "used up" really means).

You didn't say how long your tank has been set up, which could eliminate "Old Tank Syndrome".

Have you ever tested your tap water? Leave a glass of water out overnight and test it. I assume by <50, you mean @4-5 [acronym:5a525b2c64="Degrees of carbonate hardness"]dkh[/acronym:5a525b2c64], which isn't too bad.

my tank has been running for a Year !!
my readings (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are perfect.
my fish are happy, swimming, eating etc..

i'm just concerned about the pH, its usually above 7.0

07-21-2005, 09:12 PM	#1
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	how do u keep your pH stable?? my pH keeps falling i was wondering, do any of you use/do anything to keep your pH stable? I had driftwood in my tank. I removed it, because the tannins kept leaching, causing my pH to fall. But, even with the driftwood Gone, my pH keeps falling. Is there anything I can do to keep it stable and buffered?

07-21-2005, 09:26 PM	#2
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	What is the hardness in the tank? __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

07-21-2005, 09:34 PM	#3
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	Sounds like your on your way to a [acronym:f22ec5ba0b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:f22ec5ba0b] crash. If you don't have a test kit to find out what your hardness is, doing a water change can help temporarily. You need to know the hardness in order to figure out what is needed to buffer the water or to determine if that is the problem. How long has the tank been set up and what was the highest and lowest [acronym:f22ec5ba0b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:f22ec5ba0b] readings? __________________ _________________________________

07-21-2005, 09:56 PM	#9
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	There is a condition called "Old Tank Syndrome" which could cause a [acronym:e245d3b38a="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:e245d3b38a] crash (that's what "used up" really means). You didn't say how long your tank has been set up, which could eliminate "Old Tank Syndrome". Have you ever tested your tap water? Leave a glass of water out overnight and test it. I assume by <50, you mean @4-5 [acronym:e245d3b38a="Degrees of carbonate hardness"]dkh[/acronym:e245d3b38a], which isn't too bad. __________________ _________________________________

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07-21-2005, 09:35 PM	#4
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	i'm not sure... i'll test it now i'll check ...one sec

07-21-2005, 09:48 PM	#5
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	i have a low [acronym:128ede7b6e="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:128ede7b6e] = <50

07-21-2005, 09:50 PM	#7
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	is it possible that ALL the buffer is "used up" ??

07-21-2005, 09:54 PM	#8
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	is it possible that there is still driftwood remains and tannis in the aquarium... causing the pH to constantly fall ??

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