PH...how to get it down?

[Arctic_Fishery]

I set the tank up without de-chlorinating it.PH was 7.2.....then i de-chlorinated it and the next day the ph was 7.0.....then i put in this packet of stress zyme....it said to put in the tank to speed up the cycling process...now the ph is a steady 7.6 for 3 days now....isnt that too high and if so how do i get it down.

[Slappy*McFish]

No..it's fine for most fish...I would leave it alone.

[Arctic_Fishery]

ok...perfect also what does my nitrates and ammonia readings have to be before my tank is ready...just wondering.

[Dapple2]

Most fish adapt just fine to gradual changes in their pH. For the rest, well it's easier to just pick fish who like your water rather than fiddling with chemicals or investing in an RO unit etc.

As for the cycling Q, here are a few websites that might be of use to you:

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/startover/fishless.shtml#fishless
http://www.csupomona.edu/~jskoga/Aquariums/Ammonia.html
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

[Arctic_Fishery]

thanks dapple.....i just went to petsmart and bought a nitrate kit and an ammonia test kit.....my nitates are pretty much 0...is that good?also my ammonia water is clear, but the chart says light yellow is 0 but mine stays clear...i did it twice and followed the instructions...anybody have this happen before.

[Dapple2]

Are you fish-less cycling? Until you add either ammonia or a source of ammonia you won't get any readings. Check out those articles, they explain much better than I do! ;)

Stress Zyme btw is completely worthless, if you haven't used too much of it, I'd take it back. Check the packages on your test kits and make sure they aren't expired too (been there, done that) many stores don't sell them very quickly, especially the nitate for some reason.

HTH

[Arctic_Fishery]

oh ok thanks....

[fpsiv]

Don't forget to check your nitrItes as well... :p

Ammonia --> NitrItes --> NitrAtes

Of course, I'm sure this is covered in the articles that Dapple2 provided... :D

Cheers,
-fpsiv

[Arctic_Fishery]

nitrates are at 0

[fpsiv]

Having zero nitrAte is highly unlikely in a system that has been properly cycled. NitrAte is the end product of the 'nitrogen cycle', so having no nitrAte means that the cycle is not progressing to completion. I suppose that you could get to zero nitrAte in a well-established, heavily planted, and lightly stocked tank, but I don't think that's what we're dealing with here.
My previous post was in reference to NitrIte... the intermediary in the 3-part cycle. Ammonia and NitrIte are quite toxic, while NitrAte is only toxic in higher concentrations.

A tank that is ready for fish will have...

0.0 ppm Ammonia
0.0 ppm NitrIte
<40 ppm NitrAte


Cheers,
-fpsiv