Ph and Ammonia

[ycycle]

We have a 125 Gallon Tank. Set Up with existing media and gravel from previous owner. Run for previous 6 years. Has Eheim 2250 and 2217 one at each end. We have bogwood and various plants and rocks and gravel and numerous fish.

PH 6 and falling.
Ammonia 4
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
KH 107.4.
Temp 26c

We have had several crashes this week. Ammonia was at 8 most of last week. Can't keep any Nitrates and found that 2217 had Carbon in it. Was advised to remove carbon as it was the likely cause and replace media in 2217. Whislt this was off th2 Ph was 7, Nitrate rose to 10, Nitrate was at 0.5 and the Ammonia remained stable at 1. We replaced media and put the 2217 back on and PH dropped rapidly over last 2 days, Ammonia risen, Nitrates and Nitrites disappeared. Have done 20/25% water changes today and 2 days ago and added some small sea shells. Need advice as to what to do next as PH is a major problem .

Fish: 2 Angel, 1 Large Silver Dollar, 8 Corys, 2 Pleco, 14 Neon Tetra, 6 Mollies, 1 Small Bala Shark.

 

[gscott]

PH is a scale of acid to basic, i suggest taking your Ph reading and depending on what side it is, either acidic, or basic, you may need to add chemicals. If you have a Ph testing kit they usually tell you what to do in case of situation. ideal rang of ph is 7.2-7.6. either add a "Ph plus" or minus. hope this helps

 

[ycycle]

Following today's water change and ammonia remover added. Within 2 hours of water change PH rose to 6.6 but everything else stayed the same. So added ammonia Remover and after 2 hours PH now at 6.6 and Ammonia at Less than 2. Nitrates have risen to 5 and still no Nitrites. We did try PH UP last week but this caused Ammonia to rise from 2 to 8 within an hour. Only after this did we get told to remove the carbon in the 2217.
Fingers crossed that the level will remain stable after this. This is only the 3rd time we have had any Nitrates in our tank since setting it up at on 6th Jan 2005. Our highest reading was 10 on 29/1 but it then dropped to 5 before disappearing altogether.

 

[ycycle]

Checked Levels 9am today and PH dropped below 6. Nitrates 5, Nitrites 0.25, Ammonia 4. Did Water Change 20% and added Ammonia Remover. Fish appear well but still no idea where the PH is going.

 

[Fiori]

Do you have soft water in your area? I have been having the same problem with pH dropping down to 5 (it may have been lower!), due to the fact that my local water is so soft, there is practically no buffer there to prevent a pH crash.

I added coral sand to the tank (or you can add it to the filter) and it has maintained the pH at 6.6 for the last week or so. Luckily the tank is undergoing a fishless cycle, so its only been set up for 3 weeks and already the pH crashed.

 

[ycycle]

My tap water has PH 7.8, Nitrite 0.5, Nitrates 40, and Ammonia 0.25. I have tested again 9pm today and after adding (this morning) 1 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda in 1 Gallon of Water, Along with my 20% Water Change the levels are. PH 6.6, Nitrites 0.5, Nitrates 10 and Ammonia 2. I am feeding fish once on alternate days and the biggest positive is the beginning of NO2 and NO3. Ammonia is more stable now but I just can't work out what wrong with the PH.