Am having massive ph problems.
I purchased 110 pounds of onyx sand. (thinking the slight buffering capacity wouldn't be a problem) Washed it with tap water. Put it in the tank, and added tap water. Went out and bought a test kit, and automated CO2 system. Tested the ph it was 8.8. Tested the tap water from the tap it was 8.8. Was amazed. Went to the lfs, tested their tap water, same results. (They treat and filter their water in the sump.) Bought and installed an r/o system. Tested the r/o water=ph 6.2. Filled up the empty tank, with r/o water the ph shot up to 8.6. Did a 100 % water change with r/o water, results 8.3 ph. Called Seachem, tech told me to use Acid & Alkaline Buffers. Did for a week. It was a waste of chemicals, the results was a bouncing ph, with no improvements. Then went on Seachem's site and read the faqs about Acid Buffer. It will not work without a Bio load.(Turns to gas, and dissipates.)
Living in a condo on the 12th floor, Its hard to clean the gravel, (Mess up the plumbing.) and using our tap water to clean it would do no good.
Ideally I guess the logical next step is to figure a way to clean the onyx sand with r/o water.
Recap: no plants, no fish in tank. Plan originally was for a planted tank with 4 Discus and 2 angels.Need a ph around 7.0.
I purchased 110 pounds of onyx sand. (thinking the slight buffering capacity wouldn't be a problem) Washed it with tap water. Put it in the tank, and added tap water. Went out and bought a test kit, and automated CO2 system. Tested the ph it was 8.8. Tested the tap water from the tap it was 8.8. Was amazed. Went to the lfs, tested their tap water, same results. (They treat and filter their water in the sump.) Bought and installed an r/o system. Tested the r/o water=ph 6.2. Filled up the empty tank, with r/o water the ph shot up to 8.6. Did a 100 % water change with r/o water, results 8.3 ph. Called Seachem, tech told me to use Acid & Alkaline Buffers. Did for a week. It was a waste of chemicals, the results was a bouncing ph, with no improvements. Then went on Seachem's site and read the faqs about Acid Buffer. It will not work without a Bio load.(Turns to gas, and dissipates.)
Living in a condo on the 12th floor, Its hard to clean the gravel, (Mess up the plumbing.) and using our tap water to clean it would do no good.
Ideally I guess the logical next step is to figure a way to clean the onyx sand with r/o water.
Recap: no plants, no fish in tank. Plan originally was for a planted tank with 4 Discus and 2 angels.Need a ph around 7.0.
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