Bogwood - Ph Swings And Roundabouts :)

[Cooper2085]

So then folks, im here to ask about bogwood. My natural PH is between 7.6 &8.0 from the tap. A large piece of bogwood in a cycling tank has taken the PH down to 4.5-5.

How do you guys keep control of PH? I need mine to be 6.9 - 7.2 ideally although anything upto 7.6 is ok.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Aaron

 

[nicnak]

Hi Aaron,never heard of bogwood taking ph that far down.... just take it out whilst you are cycling otherwise you will it will stall the cycle

 

[Cooper2085]

Hmm never heard of that before. I didnt think PH effected cycles?

 

[pastabake]

The bacteria in your filter require a pH of above 6, they do best around 7 to 8. Below 6 and you just wont cycle.

I doubt though that it is simply the bogwood that has caused the pH drop, another cause could be that you have added too much ammonia and I have heard that the bacteria themselves can cause a small drop. I guess it all depends upon the buffering capacity of your water.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

pH often drops during cycling, it then causes the cycle to stall if it gets below 6. i doubt if it's the bogwood doing it, muchy more likley the cycle.

do a big water change, keep monitoring your pH while cycling if it drops down this low again do another water change. once the tank's finished cycling it should stabilise around the level of your tap water

 

[Cooper2085]

Thanks for the replies! I was wondering why the cycle was taking so long... About 2 weeks ago i could add 2ppm of ammonia and it would be gone within 12 hours, now it stays around!

Ok water change on the way!

Thanks for the info!