jessebs
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I'm setting up a new tank and have been cycling since September. About a week ago, my cycle stalled and my pH was very low, most likely caused by driftwood in my tank.
Based on some suggestions here, I put in some crushed coral into my filter on Wednesday. It was just a tablespoon or 2 into a nylon bag. Afterwards I did close to 100% water change.
I've been testing the cycle, and it looks like it's back on track. Today I was ready to say it's done, so I tested all params. My test showed pH off the chart (above 8.8). My first thought is that I put in too much of the crushed coral, so I pulled out about 1/2, did a 70% change and tested again to see if it brought it down enough. Again, off the chart. I don't think it's a bad test kit because both pH and high-range pH show off the charts.
I test my tap. My pH is now over 8.8 from the tap. When I tested to get my baseline in October, it was 7.6. I guess for now I need to pull out the rest of the crushed coral, and the driftwood should bring it down.
This leads to several questions
Do I have any way to protect against pH swings like this coming from city utilities?
Has anyone had a similar experience?
Wouldn't doing a water change like this kill any fish that I have since it's a pretty substantial swing?
Does argonite actually raise pH or just increase buffers so it's less susceptible to change?
Based on some suggestions here, I put in some crushed coral into my filter on Wednesday. It was just a tablespoon or 2 into a nylon bag. Afterwards I did close to 100% water change.
I've been testing the cycle, and it looks like it's back on track. Today I was ready to say it's done, so I tested all params. My test showed pH off the chart (above 8.8). My first thought is that I put in too much of the crushed coral, so I pulled out about 1/2, did a 70% change and tested again to see if it brought it down enough. Again, off the chart. I don't think it's a bad test kit because both pH and high-range pH show off the charts.
I test my tap. My pH is now over 8.8 from the tap. When I tested to get my baseline in October, it was 7.6. I guess for now I need to pull out the rest of the crushed coral, and the driftwood should bring it down.
This leads to several questions
Do I have any way to protect against pH swings like this coming from city utilities?
Has anyone had a similar experience?
Wouldn't doing a water change like this kill any fish that I have since it's a pretty substantial swing?
Does argonite actually raise pH or just increase buffers so it's less susceptible to change?