Up-aqua aqua soil

[Hubert90]

Hey guys I added 6L of aqua soil into my tank giving me about 2-3 inches of substrate. Planted my plants. Then came to test my water parameters the ammonia was 1.0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, ph was 6.0. I was confused at this point as i believed my tank is cycled so I called up my Lfs where brought this from and they told me the aquasoil do release ammonia as well as reducing ur ph. That mystery solved. I went and brought the ammonia b down to 0.25 through pwc. However I cant bring my ammonia back up. I used seachem basic to bring it b up to 7.0. But overnight the ph dropped b down to 6.6. Which is ideal for my betta.

So I'm just wondering what I should do at this point. Do I remove my betta and temporary house him in a betta box in my 40 gallon While the ph settles? Or should I just leave him in there and try to battle my ph daily through multiple water changes?

Thanks guys

[jetajockey]

Aquasoil is going to keep your pH low like that. The fish will be fine in it, just be focused on the toxins in the tank, I wouldn't keep him in there if the aquasoil is spiking the ammonia in the tank.

You'll do more harm than good by adding PH buffers to counteract what the aquasoil is doing.

[Hubert90]

Originally Posted by jetajockey

Aquasoil is going to keep your pH low like that. The fish will be fine in it, just be focused on the toxins in the tank, I wouldn't keep him in there if the aquasoil is spiking the ammonia in the tank.

You'll do more harm than good by adding PH buffers to counteract what the aquasoil is doing.

Cheers. That's what I though but my ph level from tap is 7.6. So everytime I do a pwc the ph is gonna fluctuate. Any idea how to counter this? And ammonia isnt long term at all I think it's only when i first add the aquasoil ammonia is released. But I'm keeping an eye my parameters closely.

[jetajockey]

I wouldn't worry about countering it. If the water changes aren't huge it won't be that drastic of a shift.

Planted tanks with pressurized co2 drops the ph down daily, and then often times they are set on solenoid to turn off at night, which raises the ph back up, only to have it drop again in the morning.

[Hubert90]

Originally Posted by jetajockey

I wouldn't worry about countering it. If the water changes aren't huge it won't be that drastic of a shift.

Planted tanks with pressurized co2 drops the ph down daily, and then often times they are set on solenoid to turn off at night, which raises the ph back up, only to have it drop again in the morning.

Ahh ok!! Cheers u are great help.