drop in ph and calcium - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

cmor1701d · 07-08-2008, 01:59 PM

Do you have a cover on your tank? The gas exchange O/CO2 takes place at the waters surface. Having an open top (eggcrate to keep the fish in) abnd a rippled surface if key for the gas exchange which should also help stabilize the pH. Also, the pH will vary during the day, being lowest just before the lights come on and highest just before they go out. It is important that pH be tested at the same time of day each time you test.

How often are you doing a pwc? I do them every 2 -3 weeks in my 125g tank.

Kurt_Nelson · 07-08-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will8

what about adding some purple up? will that help in sorting the problems out?

Absolutely not. One of the first rules to try and stick to in this hobby is to not add anything to your tank without testing for whatever it is you're adding. The reason your alk is high is because you added buffer to remedy a pH issue (which isn't the right remedy anyway) without testing your alkalinity. Alkalinity buffers temporarily raise the pH, but only temporarily. Your best bet to resolve the issue is to find out what's causing the lower pH. Could be excess CO2 in your tank, in your house, not enough aeration, not frequent enough water changes... etc.

Adding PurpleUp at this point (and at any point in my opinion) will just throw your parameters even more out of whack.

will8 · 07-08-2008, 04:42 PM

ok i wont be putting any thing in to the water.
i do a pwc weekly with out fail, change 10%.
i do have a cover on my tank, also i a rippling surface made by my protein skimmer.
checked the ph level this afternoon it was 8ppm

Kurt_Nelson · 07-09-2008, 02:10 AM

8 is perfectly acceptable. As mentioned numerous times here... stability is really more important than the actual number.

will8 · 07-09-2008, 06:59 AM

thank you kurt for your help.

cmor1701d · 07-09-2008, 02:59 PM

Just be sure to check the pH at about the same time of day each time you check. That will let you know if the tank pH has actually changed.

**melosu58** · 07-09-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt_Nelson

8 is perfectly acceptable. As mentioned numerous times here... stability is really more important than the actual number.

Kurt hit it on the head. Stability is the key.

07-08-2008, 01:59 PM	#11
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,927 Images: 43	Do you have a cover on your tank? The gas exchange O/CO2 takes place at the waters surface. Having an open top (eggcrate to keep the fish in) abnd a rippled surface if key for the gas exchange which should also help stabilize the pH. Also, the pH will vary during the day, being lowest just before the lights come on and highest just before they go out. It is important that pH be tested at the same time of day each time you test. How often are you doing a pwc? I do them every 2 -3 weeks in my 125g tank. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

07-09-2008, 02:59 PM	#16
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,927 Images: 43	Just be sure to check the pH at about the same time of day each time you check. That will let you know if the tank pH has actually changed. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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07-08-2008, 04:42 PM	#13
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 85	ok i wont be putting any thing in to the water. i do a pwc weekly with out fail, change 10%. i do have a cover on my tank, also i a rippling surface made by my protein skimmer. checked the ph level this afternoon it was 8ppm

07-09-2008, 06:59 AM	#15
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 85	thank you kurt for your help.