Tank pH Rather Low

how can anyone use this stuff if it lowers the pH so much. my water is also neutral (maybe slightly basic) out of the tap.

:confused:
 
Well, the fish are all fine. In fact we have not lost any fish since we started using ADA aquasoil. The Swords were breeding out of control (new fry almost every week) Otto were so fat, I had to smile to myself every time I saw them (Georgia) and now the true SAEs, Rummynose tetras and Pearl Gouramis and all very healthy. And the plants..... the plants are growing out of control! Since it's a high light aquarium I have to trim them a couple times a week or they will get out of control. From what we have experienced here and back in Georgia, the low PH does not seem pose any problems.
 
Ha! My tap pH runs anywhere from 8-9. It was actually 9 for an entire week this month after it rained. That's why I got the Aquasoil, to combat my dumb tap water.

I think I can get the pH of the water column up by adding crushed coral. The point of the Aquasoil is to keep the plant roots at a lower pH.
 
I do think my CO2 levels were too high. I put a handful of neons in the tank and they were all gasping (or it looked like they were gasping, tbh I have never really looked at fish breathing in the past, but they definitely didn't look happy). Turned off the CO2 and got some more aeration, thankfully they're all ok.

I had the CO2 levels rather high because I'm trying to ward off start up algae (BBA in particular), so we'll see what happens tomorrow I guess. for now it's lights out, CO2 off :lol:
 
One thing I should have mentioned earlier is that we did have an issue with overfeeding. My wife (God bless her) decided the Ottos should be feed 3 algae wafers per day. After about a week doing that the aquarium crashed (PH in the 4s) But after daily water changes it returned to normal. :)
 
lol. my big issue is underfeeding (I'm rather absent minded about such things)
 
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