Hello,
I recently purchased a 60 gallon tank and got all the sand, water, and chemicals put in. I tested the water about a week after set up and the pH and alkalinity were both a little low; nothing major. I added a pH booster and it helped balance that, but my alkalinity is still a little low.
I currently have no fish in the tank and just did a 25% water change yesterday(3 weeks after initial set up) and added bacteria supplement again(All new water treated prior to putting in tank). I was not sure if it might be low due to having no fish so there is no real habitat set up or if I might have done something incorrectly? The only thing the local pet store told me was that it might be my sand since I used play sand(Prefer the look of it) for the base. It was all rinsed and cleaned prior to putting in the tank, but that was the only thing they could think of.
I am using a Penguin Biowheel 350b for my filtration, so I don't believe that is a problem. Other than that I have a Top Fin heater(300 watt), and 2 small anacharis plants. I do not know if alkalinity has any effect on fish since I am brand new to this hobby, but I want to make sure I don't doom a fish before it even have a chance of adapting! Thanks in advance for your help!
I recently purchased a 60 gallon tank and got all the sand, water, and chemicals put in. I tested the water about a week after set up and the pH and alkalinity were both a little low; nothing major. I added a pH booster and it helped balance that, but my alkalinity is still a little low.
I currently have no fish in the tank and just did a 25% water change yesterday(3 weeks after initial set up) and added bacteria supplement again(All new water treated prior to putting in tank). I was not sure if it might be low due to having no fish so there is no real habitat set up or if I might have done something incorrectly? The only thing the local pet store told me was that it might be my sand since I used play sand(Prefer the look of it) for the base. It was all rinsed and cleaned prior to putting in the tank, but that was the only thing they could think of.
I am using a Penguin Biowheel 350b for my filtration, so I don't believe that is a problem. Other than that I have a Top Fin heater(300 watt), and 2 small anacharis plants. I do not know if alkalinity has any effect on fish since I am brand new to this hobby, but I want to make sure I don't doom a fish before it even have a chance of adapting! Thanks in advance for your help!