how do u keep your pH stable?? my pH keeps falling

[Bubble_B0y]

i was wondering, do any of you use/do anything to keep your pH stable?

I had driftwood in my tank.
I removed it, because the tannins kept leaching, causing my pH to fall.

But, even with the driftwood Gone, my pH keeps falling.

Is there anything I can do to keep it stable and buffered?

[Fishyfanatic]

What is the hardness in the tank?

[Jchillin]

Sounds like your on your way to a ph crash. If you don't have a test kit to find out what your hardness is, doing a water change can help temporarily.

You need to know the hardness in order to figure out what is needed to buffer the water or to determine if that is the problem.

How long has the tank been set up and what was the highest and lowest ph readings?

[Bubble_B0y]

i'm not sure...
i'll test it now
i'll check ...one sec

[Bubble_B0y]

i have a low KH = <50

[Bubble_B0y]

Originally Posted by Jchillin

Sounds like your on your way to a ph crash. If you don't have a test kit to find out what your hardness is, doing a water change can help temporarily.

You need to know the hardness in order to figure out what is needed to buffer the water or to determine if that is the problem.

How long has the tank been set up and what was the highest and lowest ph readings?

my pH is usually 7.6
but today its 7.0

[Bubble_B0y]

is it possible that ALL the buffer is "used up" ??

[Bubble_B0y]

is it possible that there is still driftwood remains and tannis in the aquarium...
causing the pH to constantly fall ??

[Jchillin]

There is a condition called "Old Tank Syndrome" which could cause a ph crash (that's what "used up" really means).

You didn't say how long your tank has been set up, which could eliminate "Old Tank Syndrome".

Have you ever tested your tap water? Leave a glass of water out overnight and test it. I assume by <50, you mean @4-5 dkh, which isn't too bad.

[Bubble_B0y]

Originally Posted by Jchillin

There is a condition called "Old Tank Syndrome" which could cause a ph crash (that's what "used up" really means).

You didn't say how long your tank has been set up, which could eliminate "Old Tank Syndrome".

Have you ever tested your tap water? Leave a glass of water out overnight and test it. I assume by <50, you mean @4-5 dkh, which isn't too bad.

my tank has been running for a Year !!
my readings (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are perfect.
my fish are happy, swimming, eating etc..

i'm just concerned about the pH, its usually above 7.0

[Bubble_B0y]

Originally Posted by Jchillin

There is a condition called "Old Tank Syndrome" which could cause a ph crash (that's what "used up" really means).

You didn't say how long your tank has been set up, which could eliminate "Old Tank Syndrome".

Have you ever tested your tap water? Leave a glass of water out overnight and test it. I assume by <50, you mean @4-5 dkh, which isn't too bad.

<50 KH is around 4-6 degrees.
yeah that sounds about right

[Jchillin]

Your hardness level is fine, so you do have enough of a buffer. The drop could be caused by a buildup of organic substances within the tank or your filter. How often do you perform gravel vac's and filter maintenance?

[Bubble_B0y]

Originally Posted by Jchillin

Your hardness level is fine, so you do have enough of a buffer. The drop could be caused by a buildup of organic substances within the tank or your filter. How often do you perform gravel vac's and filter maintenance?

every fortnight.

i'm scared that i might lose too much good bacteria/crash the cycle if i do gravel vac and filter maintenance

[Jchillin]

Your tank is established enough that you can do this. You will not lose any bacterial colonies.

The filter maintenance only involves removing any accumulated detrius. You can use your tank water to rinse it out and rinse the bio and mechanical media as well. Re-fill the filter with your tank water as well to get it started again.

[Bubble_B0y]

Originally Posted by Jchillin

Your tank is established enough that you can do this. You will not lose any bacterial colonies.

The filter maintenance only involves removing any accumulated detrius. You can use your tank water to rinse it out and rinse the bio and mechanical media as well. Re-fill the filter with your tank water as well to get it started again.

thanks for the help
i will get to it now.

[greenmaji]

Have you tested the PH and KH of the tapwater as well?
as JC said.. this is sounds like denitrifing acids that accumulate from using bacteria to convert ammonia to lesser lethal nitrogens.. Water changes should fix the problem (including vacuming your gravel and making sure your filters are clean) but this might not help if your tapwaters KH is too low.. if not disregard this post..