Ph Problems

[NoahFL]

I've had a recurring problem in my tank for about 5 months. I continually have low PH and a low Alkalinity. I had put some Driftwood in my tank for my Plecos and someone on this forum suggested I take it out and see what happens. I took it out about 4 months ago and still have a low PH and a low Alkalinity.

Here are my numbers:


Tank (55gal)-
Nitrate - 80mg/L
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Hardiness - 75
Alkalnity - 40
PH - <6.2 (color on the stick was a bright yellow)

Tapwater -
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Hardiness - 75
Alkalnity - 180
PH - between 7.2 and 7.8

I keep the temp at 72 degrees. I do a 20% water change every 2 weeks.

As far as fish, I have 2 Cory Cats, 2 Plecos (1 is about 1" and the other is about 3" long), 4 Platy's, 6 Guppies, 3 Mollies, 5 Neon Tetras, 2 Pearl Gouramis, 4 Golden White Clouds, 4 Zebra Danios, 4 Torquoise Danios, 2 Bleeding Heart Tetras, and 1 Sparkling Danio (other died about 2 weeks ago). I have an UGF as well as a Whisper 40i. I change the filter about every 1 - 2 months.

The PH doesn't seem to be bothering the fish, however, I can't imagine this is good for them long term or if I decide to add more fish. I have added those wafers that gradually increase the PH and they don't seem to work. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Should I raise the PH with chemicals or is there a natural way I can bring it up, or should I just let the readings stay as they are.

Thanks

 

[gadazobe]

Leave it as it is - most fish will adapt to any ph as long as it doesn't fluctuate. I'm curious, how big is your tank?

 

[NoahFL]

Leave it as it is - most fish will adapt to any ph as long as it doesn't fluctuate. I'm curious, how big is your tank?

The tank is 55gal which is about 242 Liters (If I did the conversion right). Thanks for your reply.

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. I tend to agree with gadazobe on this one. Generally fish can come to get used to a particular pH level even if it isn't what "the book" says they should have. The important thing is to try to keep it as stable as possible. If that is where your water wants to be then it's probably not that big a deal. If it is fluctuating on it's own then that is not good. Wood can lower the pH, that's why someone told you to try removing it. After a period of time i would think that the wood would affect the pH less and less. If you really want to try raising the pH slowly, you can try adding a piece or two of limestone, or some crushed coral. This should naturally raise the pH, just be careful not to go too far too fast. Good luck.

 

[NoahFL]

Thanks for the replies. I will go with the advice you both gave and just leave it as is although I would be scared to add any new fish. I just think it's odd that I took the wood out and have done several 20% water changes since and yet the readings are so low.

Thanks again.

 

[NoahFL]

My rubbernosed Pleco died this morning. Could this be related? I've had him since Christmas.

 

[monkeyman]

Man, ive the same problem as you. 55gal tank, added bogwood, pH too low (5/.5.5 i think), took it out, pH not risen in 5 weeks after about 10 20% water changes Tap water = pH6.5. I know its not so bad, all my fish are fine, jus wouldnt fancy as you say trying to add new fish. The low pH doesnt bother me too much.

ITS JUST THIS... WHY WONT MY pH BEGIN TO RISE??? ITS SERIOUSLY DOING MY HEAD IN! ANYONE???

 

[mandy82]

My 40 gallon's pH sits about at a 6.0, maybe less. I've just stopped worrying about it. The fish seem fine. I honestly don't think the pleco died from the pH. However, plecos seem to live longer than other fish (in my experience) so maybe something else went wrong.

 

[reg2k2]

A bit on water chemistry.
Check the KH (alkalinity)...it's what keeps pH steady and too little will allow a drop. Filtering over crushed coral works for me. I lost several tetras and two dwarf cichlids, I now believe, to pH swings. My pleco and one tetra lived through it, for about 6yrs, but I agree...not a good thing.

Noah, your alkalinity from tap should be fine...I'm guessing it's the nitrate level bringing it down.Might look into rinsing filter at each current change (is the media pretty full when you rinse?),increasing volume/frequency of water chg's, being careful of overfeeding, or perhaps an additional filter would help.
Unless the wood's releasing tannins, I'd prob. put it back.

 

[NoahFL]

A bit on water chemistry.
Check the KH (alkalinity)...it's what keeps pH steady and too little will allow a drop. Filtering over crushed coral works for me. I lost several tetras and two dwarf cichlids, I now believe, to pH swings. My pleco and one tetra lived through it, for about 6yrs, but I agree...not a good thing.

Noah, your alkalinity from tap should be fine...I'm guessing it's the nitrate level bringing it down.Might look into rinsing filter at each current change (is the media pretty full when you rinse?),increasing volume/frequency of water chg's, being careful of overfeeding, or perhaps an additional filter would help.
Unless the wood's releasing tannins, I'd prob. put it back.

Thanks for the great article. I'm going to try weekly 20% changes and see if that has any effect on the chemistry. When you ask if the media is pretty full when you rinse, which part are you asking about? When I suction the water out from the bottom, it's not very dirty, but when I change the charcoal in the Whisper 40i, the bag that the charcoal goes in is pretty dirty. I will usually change the bag and charcoal, but I rinse the black foam grid with every change. Is it possible to have too clean of a tank? Maybe that is why my pleco died (although I did give him wafers at night).

Thanks for your help. This is really boggling. As far as the driftwood, how would I know if it's still releasing tannins. It was not turning the water brown and it had soaked about 2 weeks prior to me putting it in the tank.

 

[reg2k2]

I imagine your safe with the wood...but u could drop it in a bucket of water for a bit, see if it turns (carbon would remove the color in the tank).

Sry about your pleco, I don't think it's due to the tank being too clean. Possibly stress from shipping and/or the water parameters. As you said you offered him food. But then, the wood wasn't in the tank the last month..may have played a part, too...'course it's just another maybe, I would always keep a piece in w/ a pleco, tho.

And it is possible to clean a tank too much, in as much as you don't want to lose the beneficial bacteria. Cloudy water (bacterial bloom) could be an indicator. You can safeguard by spacing what you clean. ie. replacing filter, gravel vac, rinsing decor. But, tbh, I wouldn't worry...esp. w/ a ugf.

If you replace the cartridge ev. month (2mo. a bit long, imo), I would rinse it along w/ the foam (in old tank water) in between. I do think you could stand to upgrade the filtration. The whisper40 is rated a bit below your tank...I have the same flowrate on my 15gal.