pH contradiction

[ImACoolguy]

So my tank is in a fish less cycle and I've recorded all my readings since I started. I've read a 7.4 pH since the beginning of my cycle (a week ago) and it has not changed a bit.

I test my pH today and I get these results. The yellow tube is high pH (API Master Test Kit) and what I have been using. Yellow is not on my charts for high pH so I tested normal pH. The reading looks to be about 7.0-7.2. The only difference in the tank since I started the tank cycle was adding some large rocks(from LFS) about an hour before I did my test.

Could the rocks be what has dropped my pH? If not, why is it suddenly changing?


Caleb

Might have a slight obsession with my fish

 

[jlk]

Fairly common in a fishless cycle to see a drop in ph. Have you performed any water changes since starting? A decent wc should help to replenish buffers and minerals necessary for the cycling process and bring your ph back to normal range. Without a wc, your ph will continue to steadily fall until your cycle stalls or crashes. Hope this helps!

 

[NigelK8485]

When I was doing my fishless cycle my pH was dropping from 7.8 to 6.6 within 24 hours. The nitrites--->nitrates will cause the pH to decrease pretty rapidly. As was said, water changes will help keep it up. I ended up adding a bag of crushed coral to my filter during the cycle to keep the water buffered since doing large 75+ gallon water changes daily was adding up.


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[ImACoolguy]

When I was doing my fishless cycle my pH was dropping from 7.8 to 6.6 within 24 hours. The nitrites--->nitrates will cause the pH to decrease pretty rapidly. As was said, water changes will help keep it up. I ended up adding a bag of crushed coral to my filter during the cycle to keep the water buffered since doing large 75+ gallon water changes daily was adding up.


Sent from my iPad using Aquarium Advice

Yeah it's a 75 gallon tank. I'll do a WC tommorow and try to find some crushed coral.


Caleb

Might have a slight obsession with my fish

 

[ImACoolguy]

Thanks for the tips guys. It just came off strange to me ?


Caleb

Might have a slight obsession with my fish

 

[Mebbid]

The growing bacteria uses up the buffers in the water as it grows which drops pH. It's perfectly normal to see ph changes during cycling.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it unless the pH drops to around 6.8 or lower in which case just do a water change. The beneficial bacteria slow down at around that point.

 

[ImACoolguy]

The growing bacteria uses up the buffers in the water as it grows which drops pH. It's perfectly normal to see ph changes during cycling.



I honestly wouldn't worry about it unless the pH drops to around 6.8 or lower in which case just do a water change. The beneficial bacteria slow down at around that point.

Thanks for simplifying. I'll keep an eye on it and I have some crushed coral on the way. I need it back up for my cichlids.


Caleb

Might have a slight obsession with my fish