Do you still have to change water when the tank is fully cycled and you just have crushed coral with live rock in the tank ? No fish yet. The ammonia and nitrite levels are fine. I havent changed the water since i set it up 3 weeks ago and the ph is kinda low at 7.5 so i brought it up to 8.2 with some buffer but drops under 7 in a few days. Is it the lack of water changes causing the ph drop? Should i vaccum the gravel bed while changing water or just change the water?
Changing water and ph question.
- Thread starter waltddp
- Start date
I'd be concerned--the alkalinity should be high enough to maintain pH--the fact that it isn't may be a problem. Wtih just bacteria in there, the pH drops aren't too big a concern, but you'll want to figure out a dosing schedule to stabilize pH before adding animals.
You must have had a lot of bio material in there rotting to pull your ph that far down. When I first filled my ph was about 8.8 from the sand I was useing at the end of the cycle it was down to about 8.1 or 8.2 the only time I've ever had it below 8 was when my tank crashed and I lost a bunch of critters. How hight did your ammonia level get to was there a lot of stuf on your l.r.?
Hth
and I'd suspect a sponge inside the l.r. if there is nothing else obvious . Are you really useing gravel or do you have c.c.? Either way you're pretty much stuck with f.o. unless you want to go bare bottom of with a sand bed.
Hth
and I'd suspect a sponge inside the l.r. if there is nothing else obvious . Are you really useing gravel or do you have c.c.? Either way you're pretty much stuck with f.o. unless you want to go bare bottom of with a sand bed.
Well, there are a few ways really. To keep it nice and simple though I'd get one of the pre-mixed products from kent marine they have buffers and ca. If you're not testing for ca just add the buffer.
Worry about mixing chalk later after you get a little more time under your belt . It's not that it's hard or that I think you'll have problems but, when trying something new simple is best at first.
hth
chris
Worry about mixing chalk later after you get a little more time under your belt . It's not that it's hard or that I think you'll have problems but, when trying something new simple is best at first.
hth
chris