Your fish is the best indicator on what to do. If they look healthy and behaving normally, I wouldn't add anything. If they begin to act strange or start breathing rapidly, do a water change and add a small amount of crushed coral in a pouch to to your filter. Not sure if crushed coral is sold at petco or petsmart, but it would be under the gravel section of most LFS.
Ph 6.0!
- Thread starter guppygal
- Start date
will the crushed coral raise the ph higher than its normal level (coming out of the tap?)
What about if you dont inject CO2 and still have a KH of less than 1? It would only be beneficial to add some crushed to the filter, right?
What about if you dont inject CO2 and still have a KH of less than 1? It would only be beneficial to add some crushed to the filter, right?
debaric - so will you add the crushed coral? I am going to wait and do a wc (not use prime and go back to stress coat for water conditioner) and see what happens. My reg tap water looks to be around 6.8/7.0 (I just retested AGAIN after letting it sit out for a couple of hrs).
PH in the tank is still down at 6.0 - yellow!
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
nitrates 0
PH in the tank is still down at 6.0 - yellow!
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
nitrates 0
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Guppygal, I think I mentioned in another post that low KH/PH crash could be responsible for your stalled cycle. Crushed coral, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) or some form of calcium carbonate can help to raise KH/PH safely, and help keep the cycle going if it's still stalled.
I believe it is the cycling process that consumes KH, and therefore PH drops because the two are tied together. Raising KH will help to buffer the water so that PH is raised and remains stable.
I've heard that a safe starting place would be to add 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 10-15 gallons and then remeasure the KH and PH and go from there. You could add less if you're feeling cautious (ie. mix well with some tank water, add gradually, measure KH/PH after each dose).
Hope this helps.
I believe it is the cycling process that consumes KH, and therefore PH drops because the two are tied together. Raising KH will help to buffer the water so that PH is raised and remains stable.
I've heard that a safe starting place would be to add 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 10-15 gallons and then remeasure the KH and PH and go from there. You could add less if you're feeling cautious (ie. mix well with some tank water, add gradually, measure KH/PH after each dose).
Hope this helps.
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FYI, I found out from a local discus breeder that some municiplaities will add buffers to the water to temporarily raise pH. they do this to slow the degredation of pipes due to acicid water.(seattle).
once the water leaves the pipes it is normal for the ph to go down and become it'snormal acid self.
this does not address your particular KH issues but may explain why it is your tap may change pH.
once the water leaves the pipes it is normal for the ph to go down and become it'snormal acid self.
this does not address your particular KH issues but may explain why it is your tap may change pH.
star_rider said:
Funny you mentioned this ... not sure if it is tied together - but I did notice my tap water turned cloudy - almost carbonated for 3 days and then returned to normal. I think I did do 1 water change during that time. I wonder if the city did something that would of affected the ph???
Crushed coral can raise your pH along with the gH, it's mostly calcium carbonate. I don't see anything wrong with using a small amount of crushed coral, the change is slow and shouldn't be very much. Whether it's a benefit is a question that recently popped up and I don't know for sure.
Crushed coral dissolves slowly over time, providing a relatively consistent kH boost until it is totally dissolved. You put a small amount in your tank or filter and can forget about it. Baking soda dissolves instantly and can be used up, and you'll have to add more when you do a water change.
