CrashCourse
Aquarium Advice Activist
I recently upgraded my 10 gallon to a 29 (yay!). The 10 was cycled, just transferred everything over, added a couple of new fish. I have x ray tetras and a baby angelfish in it now, and cory fry in a breeder box.
My tap water is well water, with a water softener that doesn't seem terribly reliable. Ph isn't exactly stable, usually stays in the mid 6-7 range. I tested the 29 tonight, and the ph is roughly 6.2-ish, my other 20 gallon showed about 6.6. There is nothing in either tank, such as driftwood, that I'm aware would lower the ph.
I'm not so much worried about low ph, as all the fish I have can live in it (assuming it doesn't drop TOO low), I'm more concerned about the low levels damaging the bacteria and harming the cycle.
I have seen a small rise in ammonia, which is to be expected with the new additions. I've been working long hours lately, and dosing with Prime to help keep the water non-toxic, if not ideal, on the nights that I just can't get a water change in.
So my questions are:
Does Prime lower the ph, directly or indirectly?
Since my ph seems to swing a bit anyway, is it a good idea to add crushed coral or shells to raise the ph, if the low levels are only temporary? I'm scared adding something will cause it to rise higher than I'd like... Or swing to the 7 or higher range for fish that prefer slightly acidic.
At what level does low ph become harmful to the BB? I'm trying to build it up to accommodate the new additions, and if hate to lose any and see another mini cycle. I feel like I've been battling some stage of cycling almost constantly for the past 6 months between the two tanks, and the daily water changes are killing me. My whole life is work and fish these days. Haha.
What causes ph to drop in one tank, but not the other, when the setup is almost identical?
Thanks!
My tap water is well water, with a water softener that doesn't seem terribly reliable. Ph isn't exactly stable, usually stays in the mid 6-7 range. I tested the 29 tonight, and the ph is roughly 6.2-ish, my other 20 gallon showed about 6.6. There is nothing in either tank, such as driftwood, that I'm aware would lower the ph.
I'm not so much worried about low ph, as all the fish I have can live in it (assuming it doesn't drop TOO low), I'm more concerned about the low levels damaging the bacteria and harming the cycle.
I have seen a small rise in ammonia, which is to be expected with the new additions. I've been working long hours lately, and dosing with Prime to help keep the water non-toxic, if not ideal, on the nights that I just can't get a water change in.
So my questions are:
Does Prime lower the ph, directly or indirectly?
Since my ph seems to swing a bit anyway, is it a good idea to add crushed coral or shells to raise the ph, if the low levels are only temporary? I'm scared adding something will cause it to rise higher than I'd like... Or swing to the 7 or higher range for fish that prefer slightly acidic.
At what level does low ph become harmful to the BB? I'm trying to build it up to accommodate the new additions, and if hate to lose any and see another mini cycle. I feel like I've been battling some stage of cycling almost constantly for the past 6 months between the two tanks, and the daily water changes are killing me. My whole life is work and fish these days. Haha.
What causes ph to drop in one tank, but not the other, when the setup is almost identical?
Thanks!