PH Questions

[Coleallensmom]

How do you manage a consistant Ph in your tank when your tank PH differs from your tap water's PH? Also, how low can PH go w/o being a concern?

Tap water in moderately hard with a PH of about 7.6 ppm. I added a small piece of driftwood to my main tank and the PH slowly dropped to what I thought was a consistant 6.8 ppm. However I recently rescaped that same tank (it's fully planted) and after my last testing, the PH was about 6.4 ppm. I tested the water in my other tank at the same time and it is sitting at between 6.6- 6.8 ppm (no driftwood in that tank).

FWIW, I do a 1x weekly PWC on both tanks; usually around 25%.

vial #1 37 gal, vial #2 20 gal, and vial #3 tap water

 

[joeynuna]

I'm thinking your tap water reading is a false reading. Public water supplies often have very low CO2.

Allow the tap water to sit 24 to 48 hours with an air pump then take a reading. You'll probably have a 6.8 pH reading, which is your tap waters natural pH. By allowing the water to sit while adding movement with the air pump, you're creating a gas exchange, lowering the pH from 7.6 to 6.8. I had a similar issue where my tap readings were 8.8 and dropping to a steady 7.6pH.

As far as your other tank dropping to 6.4pH, i would lean toward the drift wood as the culprit.

Good choice is test kits.

 

[Crepe]

I just deal with it. If you are constant and consistent with your PWCs you'll find a happy medium with minimal fluctuation. Out of tap, my water is ~ 8ph (seriously) and then in my tank I have it at ~6.8-7.2 (the colors all look the same to me)

 

[Coleallensmom]

Yes, I have trouble discerning 6.8 through 7.2 as well..There is clearly a difference between tap and tank though. Thank you both for the imput!