-So acidic water automatically converts ammonia into ammonium;
-and 6.0 pH is too acidic for the nitrogen cycle to happen (right?)
^Given that, is it essentially true, then, that as long as you keep your pH at a stable 6.0 then you don't even need the tank to cycle? And then you don't even need plants to do the naturally planted aquarium because the ammonium is harmless anyway? I'm still learning and trying to work this out in my head...
I've been cycling my tank for about 6 weeks now and slowly my pH kept dropping to more acidic. It started gradually. When I first set the tank up it was really alkaline because of the tap water and it was a struggle to get it up to my desired 6.8. A few weeks later and it was easy to keep it at 6.8. Then it started going to 6.4 and then it was a stable 6.0 and has remained so. Well just days before it went to 6.0 I got a nitrite reading! But then a couple days later the pH was 6.0, and like a horrible trick, the nitrites disappeared, still no nitrates. Then I learned that nitrites die off in water that is this acidic. So. I've been struggling with pH Up to get it back to 6.8 but the next day it's right back at 6.0. So I figured, okay forget this cycle, it wasn't meant for me. I was considering doing the planted tank so that the plants eat up the ammonia/ammonium and I never have to even deal with nitrites/nitrates. But, going back to my initial question, are the plants even needed in a pH of 6.0? (I ask this because I've had HORRIBLE luck with plants years ago. Still want to get some but they most likely will die...) Because at 6.0 the ammonia is ammonium and there will never be nitrites/nitrates because it's too acidic for them to thrive... I figure as long as I do 20% water changes/gravel vac say twice a week, and make sure the pH stays at 6.0, my fish will be fine. Right? Am I right here or is there something I am missing? And I'm sure there is lol. Like I said, I'm still new to this whole thing...Thanks!
-and 6.0 pH is too acidic for the nitrogen cycle to happen (right?)
^Given that, is it essentially true, then, that as long as you keep your pH at a stable 6.0 then you don't even need the tank to cycle? And then you don't even need plants to do the naturally planted aquarium because the ammonium is harmless anyway? I'm still learning and trying to work this out in my head...
I've been cycling my tank for about 6 weeks now and slowly my pH kept dropping to more acidic. It started gradually. When I first set the tank up it was really alkaline because of the tap water and it was a struggle to get it up to my desired 6.8. A few weeks later and it was easy to keep it at 6.8. Then it started going to 6.4 and then it was a stable 6.0 and has remained so. Well just days before it went to 6.0 I got a nitrite reading! But then a couple days later the pH was 6.0, and like a horrible trick, the nitrites disappeared, still no nitrates. Then I learned that nitrites die off in water that is this acidic. So. I've been struggling with pH Up to get it back to 6.8 but the next day it's right back at 6.0. So I figured, okay forget this cycle, it wasn't meant for me. I was considering doing the planted tank so that the plants eat up the ammonia/ammonium and I never have to even deal with nitrites/nitrates. But, going back to my initial question, are the plants even needed in a pH of 6.0? (I ask this because I've had HORRIBLE luck with plants years ago. Still want to get some but they most likely will die...) Because at 6.0 the ammonia is ammonium and there will never be nitrites/nitrates because it's too acidic for them to thrive... I figure as long as I do 20% water changes/gravel vac say twice a week, and make sure the pH stays at 6.0, my fish will be fine. Right? Am I right here or is there something I am missing? And I'm sure there is lol. Like I said, I'm still new to this whole thing...Thanks!