Ph drop help

[Coel]

So my semi planted 55 running a ac70 and 2x54w 6500 t5ho just had a ph drop. Substrate is flourite and black gravel. Plants are wisteria, duckweed, and an amazon sword. There is also a little anachris but I'm removing it since excel doesn't like it. I was running peat in my filter to lower ph from 7.8 to 7.4. I tested today and its a 6.8 and I'm going through a mini cycle... Not fun already lost 2 cories. Any ideas please help

 

[fort384]

Did you remove the peat?

 

[Coel]

Yes, it's been about a week. I had been changing it every 3 weeks and didn't have an issue

 

[fort384]

Water changes. Get your buffers back up and stable.

What do you want to keep that can't handle pH 7.8?

 

[Coel]

It's not what I can't keep it was more trying to get my cories an shrimp to breed. I was trying to get my water closer to neutral.

 

[fort384]

I will agree they will breed more readily in a slightly lower pH... but trying to lower pH and keep it stable is often a losing battle. If you are really looking to keep it more neutral and stable, an RO system might be the safest way - you would then need to add some buffer back to the water though after mixing. It is a tough thing, lowering pH and keeping it stable long term.

 

[Coel]

I am getting ready to tear the tank down, in like 3-4 months so I stopped running peat, pulled any dead or dying plants will be testing tomorrow and if need be do another wc