low pH - why?
- Thread starter fish_gal77
- Start date
sometimes, there are dissolved gasses and solids that can effect pH, and they can take a day or two to dissapate and allow for the true reading.
also, how old is the test kit?
is it a liquid test kit?
Interesting! So is it just a false reading or are the fish actually exposed to that pH level? Would aeration help?
The test kit is a liquid one and it is fairly old (2 years I think?) so perhaps I should get a new one...
I am a little confused if the ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate - 10-20, kH = 3dH is from your aquarium or your tap water.. Is your aquarium at a kH of 3 dH? From what I have read, is that a sufficient buffer should be at least 4.5 dH. I would try raising that to around 5 or 6 (nothing wrong with going higher), using either crushed coral (a more gradual/stable way to do it) or baking soda.
pH usually rises on standing as the acid CO2 gasses off. However, low KH water will crash after a while, because the processing of ammonia to nitrate uses up bicarbonate. Once KH gets close to zero the organic acids produced by various biological processes in the aquarium cannot be buffered and the pH drops.
The solution is to add sodium bicarb on water changes to keep KH at around 4 degrees.
The solution is to add sodium bicarb on water changes to keep KH at around 4 degrees.
Thank you Karl! I was wondering about possible excess CO2. I do not have any aeration other than the filter and my tank is quite deep (a full 24") - should I add bubbles?
My tap water AND tank water both measure 3dH (KH), I was under the impression that 3dH was enough but I guess that's not the case. I will add some sodium bicarb for now and look for crushed coral as a more stable permanent solution as was suggested by chunkoblue. Does GH have any effect? My water (both tank and tap) has a higher GH though I don't remember the number right now...
