Just a quick question: how much does your ph fluctuate in the course of say a week? If you tested it everday would it be rock steady or would it deviate a point or two or three?
Thnx for any anwers.
Thnx for any anwers.
ph ? 4 u
- Thread starter alphabetta
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Depends on the system. Planted tanks, without specific measures taken to counter it, will tend to fluctuate a bit from lights on to lights off. A low KH tank may slowly decrease over time, without supplements and/or water changes.
In my planted tanks, they do not vary much daily, and none over the course of the week (ie, a pH taken on Sunday evening will be the same as one done Monday or Tuesday evening, but slightly different than one taken any given morning before lights on).
In my planted tanks, they do not vary much daily, and none over the course of the week (ie, a pH taken on Sunday evening will be the same as one done Monday or Tuesday evening, but slightly different than one taken any given morning before lights on).
I feel like I'm hijacking again.
Is this true in all planted tanks or just those with CO2 suplement. I have been concerned about seeming fluctuations in my guppy tank, but gave no consideration to time of day or light cycle when I tested. The guppy tank is my first ever heavily planted tank.
It's true of most planted tanks. During the day, plants are consuming CO2, which as an acid, impacts the pH. At night, the plants quit using CO2, so it can build up a bit, causing a slight swing. Increasing surface agitation after the lights go off can help. This is one reason why it is important to test pH at the same time.
In SW setups, where coral and algaes have the same effect, people will often plumb in a 'refugium'--a tank separate from the first but connected water supplies--that have lighting running opposite to the main setup. This balances out the CO2 consumption and reduces swings. I think a few people run a similar setup on heavily planted FW tanks, but am not sure.
In SW setups, where coral and algaes have the same effect, people will often plumb in a 'refugium'--a tank separate from the first but connected water supplies--that have lighting running opposite to the main setup. This balances out the CO2 consumption and reduces swings. I think a few people run a similar setup on heavily planted FW tanks, but am not sure.
Well how bout in a planted tank with no CO2, a high KH, and with tests being taken every day between 9 and 10 pm?
Thats my situation. I also put tap water in glass bowl and tested it, with same results. So i don't think it is anything in the tank causing it.
the Ph spikes after coming out of tap, after 3 days it is more stable, but still fluctuates between 8.0 and 8.3 over the next several days. Is this normal or is this going to be harmful to the fish? I've kept bettas in it no problem, but I don't know how other fish might do. Someone told me this is going to be a problem.....is it??????
Any ideas as to why this fluctuation occurs, and if it is going to be a problem, any ideas how I should deal with it?
I'm going to get a water report from town hall this week.
Thats my situation. I also put tap water in glass bowl and tested it, with same results. So i don't think it is anything in the tank causing it.
the Ph spikes after coming out of tap, after 3 days it is more stable, but still fluctuates between 8.0 and 8.3 over the next several days. Is this normal or is this going to be harmful to the fish? I've kept bettas in it no problem, but I don't know how other fish might do. Someone told me this is going to be a problem.....is it??????
Any ideas as to why this fluctuation occurs, and if it is going to be a problem, any ideas how I should deal with it?
I'm going to get a water report from town hall this week.
How are you doing your test?? Are you averaging a few tests taken or are you doing this base on a single test each day?
Most tap water is high in Co2, and therefore has a lower PH coming out of the tap than it does after sitting overnight in a shallow bowl. The co2 equalizes with the o2 after being exposed to open air for a long enough time. After the gases equalize the true ph can be detyermined. why it continues to fluctuate after the first 24-36 hours in your tank, I can't say.
"why it continues to fluctuate after the first 24-36 hours in your tank, I can't say."
that is the crux of the problem daveedka.
I test once a day, around the same time, not averaging anything. I don't test the water in my tank every day, I put water in a glass bowl and tested it, that way I could rule out or possibly rule in the possibility of something in the tank causing the fluctuations.
So the water I have been testing the ph of went from my tap into a glass bowl, nothing added and was tested every day for about a week. With these results:
Day 1: 7.0
Day 2 : 7.5
Day 3: 8.3
Day 4 : 8.1
Day 5 : 8.0
Day 6 : 8.0
Day 7 : 8.3
Day 8 : 8.3
Kh directly out of tap: @ 300 ppm
Kh after 1 week : 180 ppm
Gh directly out of tap : 300 ppm
GH after 1 week: 150 ppm
I have a water report now, some of the results are:
calcium: 110 ppm
Magnesiuim: 10 ppm
sodium: 29 ppm
potassium : .729 ppm
chloride: 8.47 ppm
sulfate: 48 ppm
total hardness: 321 ppm
alkalinity as CACO3: 317 ppm
tot dissolved solids: 430 ppm
tot. phosphorus: .076 ppm
nitrate : 2.12 ppm
those are the ones that seem to me (who knows nothing
) to be of any consequence....is there anyone who can help me interpret the results or tell me if anything in the report seems to be indicative of a problem??
Thank you so much.
that is the crux of the problem daveedka.
I test once a day, around the same time, not averaging anything. I don't test the water in my tank every day, I put water in a glass bowl and tested it, that way I could rule out or possibly rule in the possibility of something in the tank causing the fluctuations.
So the water I have been testing the ph of went from my tap into a glass bowl, nothing added and was tested every day for about a week. With these results:
Day 1: 7.0
Day 2 : 7.5
Day 3: 8.3
Day 4 : 8.1
Day 5 : 8.0
Day 6 : 8.0
Day 7 : 8.3
Day 8 : 8.3
Kh directly out of tap: @ 300 ppm
Kh after 1 week : 180 ppm
Gh directly out of tap : 300 ppm
GH after 1 week: 150 ppm
I have a water report now, some of the results are:
calcium: 110 ppm
Magnesiuim: 10 ppm
sodium: 29 ppm
potassium : .729 ppm
chloride: 8.47 ppm
sulfate: 48 ppm
total hardness: 321 ppm
alkalinity as CACO3: 317 ppm
tot dissolved solids: 430 ppm
tot. phosphorus: .076 ppm
nitrate : 2.12 ppm
those are the ones that seem to me (who knows nothing
) to be of any consequence....is there anyone who can help me interpret the results or tell me if anything in the report seems to be indicative of a problem??Thank you so much.