Hello everyone. I set up my 65g about a month ago. i wanted a South American planted tank with Angels, Gouramis, Rams, Neon tetras. I filled it with tap water and when I tested it, it was at 8.2.
So after adding cycling fish I did 50% water changes every other day with RO water to bring the PH down to around 6.6 to 6.8. My Ph kept going up. I discovered it was due to the rocks I had in the tank. I pulled them out and replaced them with Dragon Stone. Since then I got it down to where I wanted it. All the while I'm cycling the tank. The fish seemed fine and the cycle was advancing.
UNTIL this morning. I checked the Ph and it had crashed to 6.0. It might have been lower, but my test kit only goes to 6.0. I have already been told that I needed to remineralize the water. So I took out 5 gallons and replaced it with my high Ph tap water (that was probably a big mistake). Now the Ph is at about 7.4 and to make matters worse, my ammonia and nitrites (which have never gone above .5ppm) are now spiking, and I have no RO water for an emergency water change.
I am close to throwing in the towel and just doing tap water with a buffer and go with fake plants. But I don't know what to do for tonight. Help!
BTW: the fish seem to be active and happy.
So after adding cycling fish I did 50% water changes every other day with RO water to bring the PH down to around 6.6 to 6.8. My Ph kept going up. I discovered it was due to the rocks I had in the tank. I pulled them out and replaced them with Dragon Stone. Since then I got it down to where I wanted it. All the while I'm cycling the tank. The fish seemed fine and the cycle was advancing.
UNTIL this morning. I checked the Ph and it had crashed to 6.0. It might have been lower, but my test kit only goes to 6.0. I have already been told that I needed to remineralize the water. So I took out 5 gallons and replaced it with my high Ph tap water (that was probably a big mistake). Now the Ph is at about 7.4 and to make matters worse, my ammonia and nitrites (which have never gone above .5ppm) are now spiking, and I have no RO water for an emergency water change.
I am close to throwing in the towel and just doing tap water with a buffer and go with fake plants. But I don't know what to do for tonight. Help!
BTW: the fish seem to be active and happy.