Buffering capacity is at 0 in my

[AlexsDaddy]

What would cause this? Is it bad for them? What is the best way to prevent this from happening, and fix it other than water changes? Thanks.

 

[Sorrell]

Can you explain what you mean? I'm lost

 

[Phantom Thief]

I'm lost too. What do you mean by alkalinity?

P.T.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

In the 5 in one test strip by jungle, it tests for Nitrate, Nitrite, Hardness, Alkalinity, and pH. Oh S%%T . I just read another part on the bottle. I didn't know it was there. It says:
"Alklinity (buffering Capacity)-Determines the ability to maintain a constant pH in the aquarium. If the alkalinity is too low the pH will drop to dangerous levels. Too high and the pH will also be high and become more difficult to lower. The ideal level for freshwater is 120-130 ppm."

I don't have any water ready either. I had better get some ready and get a big water change done asap!! I guess I just learned my lesson about reading everything on the stuff for my fishes.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Would it be better to do this in small changes over a couple days, or a big one? I don't want to kill my girls.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Well, I just tested my tap water, and the alkinity of that is about 30. Then tested my 5 gal. It read 0 for that as well, but the ph for that is just a touch on the acidic side as it is for my 10gal female tank. What would cause that to drop? Does anyone know? I have read that bettas can adjust to lower pH levels, but if the buffering capacity is that low, that means that the pH can go to he$$ in a handbasket at any given moment and possibly kill my fishies. I wonder how I can make that more stable. I wonder if there is a buffering compund that I can add to the water to help make it more stable and how complicated that would be to do. I'll have to start doing some research on that. If anyone has any ideas, I'll appreciate it.

 

[Apache]

Glad you asked this question, AlexsDaddy as all my tanks alkalinity reads at 0 for every test we've ever done... but the pH levels stay pretty constant at 7.2 - 7.5 So should I be concerned too if my alkalinity is too low? All other levels are good...

What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

as long as your pH is steady you'll be fine

 

[gale]

as long as your pH is steady you'll be fine

I think his concern is that the low alkalinity reading may cause his ph not to be steady. I suppose a person could check ph every day but if there was a way to make sure it won't fluctuate so much then I can see that someone would prefer that.

 

[Bettaman]

anything that contains a lime or stones with minerals or rocks, bog wood can alter it... gravel will move it a bit as well

 

[Texaswoman]

I just bought an RO unit and I add buffer to the water that Wuv recommended to me. It's called Amazon Rain and it buffers, adds trace minerals, just alot of good things. If you want to make sure you don't have the ph fluctuations check into this product and there are other similar ones out there. This is just the one I and wuv use for our bettas.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Texaswoman, thank you for that. I did a search the other day on buffering stuff, but couldn't really find anything. I'll look for that product next time I go to the lfs.
Gale, yea, my biggest concern is the pH not being steady. If buffering is at 0, it could lead to a disaster any time if I'm understanding it right.