meelah
Aquarium Advice Newbie
:? I have recently moved from CA to VA, and am suddenly having a very hard time keeping my pH between 6.8 and 7.0. Unfortunately, my pH seems to be sitting at under 6.0. I attempted to raise my pH with some chems, only to find that the pH went right back to under 6.0 the next day. My fishies are not currently happy right now, and I could use some advice (hopefully with an inexpensive solution). Here's my setup:
55gal
fluval 403 (bottom level mechanical media, mid level mechanical media and carbon and a small amount of peat granules (a few tablespoons), top level foam media)
air pump with airstones and spray bar
4 rainbows
2 yoyo loaches
3 clown loaches
3 otocinclus
3 bolivian rams
My pH levels dropped about two weeks ago. I then did a thorough gravel wash, and a 20-25% water change. The following week I reduced the amount of peat in the filter to just a few tablespoons, and changed a single foam block. Yesterday I added a dosage of pH UP, after a measurement, it was clearly in the above 6 range (but not ideal). Today I tested before adding my second dose, and saw that the pH was below 6 again.
I had this tank, with the same components (except substrate and fish) in CA for several years with zero problems maintaining pH...I am noticing that my fish are behaving somewhat agressively, and their gills appear to be too red for my likings (or theirs, I'm sure). Should I remove the remaining few tablespoons of peat? I added it at the request of my aquarist (who has since transplanted himself a few hundred miles away) to soften the water and lower the pH (which comes from tap above 8.0). Could there be something else going on? Please help...I'm stressing
55gal
fluval 403 (bottom level mechanical media, mid level mechanical media and carbon and a small amount of peat granules (a few tablespoons), top level foam media)
air pump with airstones and spray bar
4 rainbows
2 yoyo loaches
3 clown loaches
3 otocinclus
3 bolivian rams
My pH levels dropped about two weeks ago. I then did a thorough gravel wash, and a 20-25% water change. The following week I reduced the amount of peat in the filter to just a few tablespoons, and changed a single foam block. Yesterday I added a dosage of pH UP, after a measurement, it was clearly in the above 6 range (but not ideal). Today I tested before adding my second dose, and saw that the pH was below 6 again.
I had this tank, with the same components (except substrate and fish) in CA for several years with zero problems maintaining pH...I am noticing that my fish are behaving somewhat agressively, and their gills appear to be too red for my likings (or theirs, I'm sure). Should I remove the remaining few tablespoons of peat? I added it at the request of my aquarist (who has since transplanted himself a few hundred miles away) to soften the water and lower the pH (which comes from tap above 8.0). Could there be something else going on? Please help...I'm stressing