I need help with ph level

Unless you wish to do very frequent(3-4 per week) water changes, you need a Kh of 2-3 degrees minimum for a stable tank. If your Kh is 2-3 degrees at normal atmospheric co2 levels, your Ph will be 7.6-7.8. So anything below 7.6-7.8 Ph should worry the heck out of an aquarium owner. Wild water and closed sytems operate under different rules. without constant automatic water changing, you cannot duplicate natural acidic water, and still maintain a stable environment. go for stable match your tank to tap and your fish will be quite happy. The Ph down game is not worht playing.
dave
 
I wasn't offended in the least..I was just explaining why I did thehijacking" lol..

Those readings you quoted was my problem for which I was asking the advice...I'm much more worried about the Nitrates being 160 then i am the ammo and trites...They will go down with water changes...I wasn't wanting to know the best way to go about my water changes...big and frequent?..small and frequent?...big/twice a week?..

The fish have been in there a long time and i don't want to shock them to quickly..Like I said this is the 1st ever WR in 5 yrs...I have no idea how long they've lived in those conditions..
My dad had guppies he pretty much just fed..no WCs no clean up..just add water to counter evaporation..I even sunk a model ship to the bottom..didn't phase them.So I know they can adapt...I just want to bring it down as easy to their level as possible..

The "looks good" was in reference to my tap water levels..

I don't have a Kh test..will look into it...I know in my pool I had to add Calcium Hardness Increaser...Don't know if that clues you in on Kh in any way..
 
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Also...I'm not fully planted but have about 8 of them..Plan on a few more..I have a powerhead running for airation..I figure plants help with Nitrates,maybe I'm not helping the plants help the nitrates.....could the level of surface agitation release to much CO2...I could knock down the bubbling..
 
If Water changes have not been done regularly in the past, then frequent low volume changes are needed to bring the tank back within spec. In this case high volume water changes are a danger as they change things too rapidly on fish that have adapted to abnormal conditions. My reccomendation is usually 10% changes 3-4 times a day until tank parrameters and tap parrameters match. after that point, medium to high volume once a week is more the normal proceedure.
dave
 
Leave your PH alone

Fish will adapt to your local PH whatever it is unless it's through the roof leave it alone. If you start to artificially manipulate it, it will be constant headache and your fish will stress out. Everytime you change water you will have to worry about it.

But if you feel that you must get it down a little, do this...During your weekly/bi weekly water changes, use a mixture of 1/2 distilled water and 1/2 tap water..DO NOT FILL YOUR TANK WITH DISTILLED ONLY. But if you don't mind spending a few bucks on water every few weeks, this is good method. :D
 
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