Lots of Plants, No kh Low Ph = no bacteria?

7.4 is a fine ph, and u didnt post ur kh. a very low kh could just be soft water and is fine unless ur adding co2(someone els can add other reason why a low kh might be bad). my water out the tap is extemely hard, but gives me a high kh allowing for less of a ph swing when adding c02(thx San antonio for ur hard mineral water). if u do want to add c02 for plant growth u could just use excel, dependin on ur tank size.

as far as i know bacteria can survive in a low ph (7.4 is not low), i would think before the water gets to acidic for even fish bacteia will survive.

salt in large and prolonged amounts can be bad for freshwater plants. if ur treatin for ick it shouldnt cause to much trouble. after the ick is gone just do some waer changes. if u suspect ur wife did add something water changes will help.

for cloudy water im not sure, could be some type of algae bloom, i not sure. would help if u posted tank size, fish, and water params.

i answered everything to the best of my knowledge, lets see wht others have to say, and get tht info posted so others can be further help. also did ya cycle ur tank?

Brandon

Matt, ansers are in bold

FishyMatty said:

1.Can the bacteria we all know and love survive and most importantly thrive in water conditions with a very low ph and little to no kh? (I read they couldnt)

Yes it can and does. My tank is a steady 5.9

2. my tap water in 7.4 why is my kh and ph so low after a few days in the tank? (heavily planted!)
pH and kh aare entirely different. One is hardness/carbonates the other aciditity. Are you injecting CO2?

3. Ick... had it, cured it with heat and salt. The day after I lowered my water temp the water got cloudy again, the ammonia spiked, the nitrites spiked and the ph and kh dropped off the face of the fish tank. So I begun the cycle all over again. Is this possible that the heat killed my biological filter? I think my wife may have put some ick cure **** in there because she likes to do exactly the opposite of what I tell her. Could the ick cure have killed the bacteria? More then heat, I would suspect the ick cure/salt. It is highly possible it killed off some of your bacteria ...<think about why we gargle with sale when have a sore throat>

4. Last question. can there be salt in the water with live plants?
Not for too long. Unless it is a mangrove, they will not like the salt.

When the water is cloudy it is more indicative of a bacterial bloom then an algae bloom <unless it is green>
Chances are you have a setback with your biological population and your tank is going through "puberty" again.

anyone who can answer one or all of my questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Matt
Milford,CT

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well its not the plants tht drop ur ph and kh its the co2. wht type of kh test kit are u using, wht size tank, and how are u injecting and diffusing the co2?

also dont use ph up, will just cause problems with everything. a stable ph is better then a "normal" ph. wht were ur water perams like before u started addin co2 to ur tank, and be carful usin buffers the ph swing in the tank will cause alot of problems and stress for ur fishies.

so answer the questions above and list the test kits ur using plus water perams.

FishyMatty said:

One of my questions may have been a little foggy. I mentioned that my ph out of the tap was about 7.4 but after a few days in the tank the ph drops to below 5.2 and kh to under 20ppm. I have recently added buffer including baking soda and ph up and was able to get my ph up to about 7. The question I have is why do the plants cause my ph and kh to drop.
I read that the bacteria doesn't thrive or even survive in water under ph6.
Since I got my ph and kh up the no3, no2 and nitrates have all leveled out.
Also I do use co2 but only about 6bpm.
I would like to say as a new member to this website I am very thankful to those ho take their time to read and answer my questions.

Matt
milford,CT

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I don't know where you read that bacteria doesn't live in pH below 6, but it is flat out wrong.
Your plants ar enot causing it. What is your subtrate and hardscape made of?
It is not your plants. Having a low pH is not a bad thing. Mine stays at a steady 5.9 and has for over a year, and my plants are happy and so are my fish. I have a healthy biofilter going and it is not an issue. Please don't add a bunch of crap to your water column for no reason. Lets find out what we are dealing with first.
You never answerd....do you inject CO2?

he said he injects co2 at 6bpm

I hear you BK my question really is...is it pressurized or DIY? Also what is the form of diffusion?
Simple chemistry CO2 will lower pH there is nothing wrong with that? Why are you concerned with the pH here?

FishyMatty said:

One of my questions may have been a little foggy. I mentioned that my ph out of the tap was about 7.4 but after a few days in the tank the ph drops to below 5.2 and kh to under 20ppm. I have recently added buffer including baking soda and ph up and was able to get my ph up to about 7. The question I have is why do the plants cause my ph and kh to drop.
I read that the bacteria doesn't thrive or even survive in water under ph6.
Since I got my ph and kh up the no3, no2 and nitrates have all leveled out.
Also I do use co2 but only about 6bpm.
I would like to say as a new member to this website I am very thankful to those ho take their time to read and answer my questions.

Matt
milford,CT

Click to expand...

the baking soda is for KH not to raise pH. What is your KH reading?