Somethings Not Right

[tom54]

Sorry dont have an answer for you just hoping you can get your tank sort asap.

 

[Far_King]

I had forgotten you ran two filters.  What are you using to remove the po4?  For some reason I thought you were using peat for that.  Not sure where I got that from

 

[Akasha72]

don't worry, we comment on so much it's not surprising we get muddled, I know I do.
 
I've just got some new stuff for the phosphate problem - it's still aluminium based pellets but a different brand that's more economical (well it is on paper, not tested it enough yet) It's by Continuum and is called captiv-phos W. This is it's first time in my filters. I was using one by NTLabs but it was becoming expensive and so when I found this stuff was only slightly more in money (NTLabs was £15 and this new one was £20) for a pot three times the size I decided to try it. 

 

[Far_King]

I use the Rowa stuff in one my tanks.  I managed to get a tub free but not sure how long the stuff will last.  I had a breakout of BBA when I changed my substrate to sand and the plants weren't as well established.  I'm hoping once they sort themselves out they'll grab all the phosphates and the BBA won't have as much to feed on.
 
Fine tuning water can be a tricky business.

 

[Munroco]

I can only think its something to do with your substrate if the PH keeps dropping, as you've ruled out anything in the filters. I don't know af anaerobic bacteria could do this?

 

[Akasha72]

I've suspected for years that sand is what makes my pH drop. When I had gravel in my tanks my pH never shifted from the tap pH (about 7 to 7.5) but once I changed my tanks to sand I saw my pH start to fall well below neutral to around 6.5. 
Each time I've brought up the subject on various forums though I've been told it can't be the sand it has to be something else but I can't change the fact that the only change is the substrate

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Sand is inert.  The gravel may have actually been helping to buffer the water, however.   Depending on the gravel.   A lot of gravels are also inert.

 

[Akasha72]

okay, just tested my pH and it's at around 5 - still lower than I'd like. I know the coral isn't going to work over night but right now I need it start working. 
 
Thoughts please? Another water change or leave it and monitor?

 

[Far_King]

You can get buffering salts but I think the best course would be to let the coral work it's magic and bring the pH up slowly rather than a large swing.
 
How are the fish doing?

 

[Akasha72]

the fish seem okay now. The cories have stopped flicking and spinning in the sand, I suppose at pH 5 they are now at their lower end of tolerence. It's better that it was at between 4 and 4.5 but I'd still like to get it back up to between 6 and 6.5

 

[Akasha72]

I've just tested the pH in my fry tank as a comparison and that's lower than the main tank - it's 4.5 .... looks like that needs some coral too ... or a change in substrate. 
That might not be a good experiment to do ... hmm

 

[Far_King]

Are you adding anything into your water (in both tanks) that could reduce the buffering capacity at all?  Does the fry tank use a mix of the same water from the main tank?

 

[Akasha72]

only thing that has changed is my dechlorinator - I'm using API tap water conditioner now and I was using Interpet TapeSafe before. I switched as the tapsafe had aloe vera in it and I wanted to move away from that.
The fry tank has some oak leaves in to provide infusoria but I've taken a few out now. I'm tempted to take the lot out as I think it might be the oak leaves that's dropping the pH in there.
 
I've now set aside a test tube of tap water and I'll test it's pH in 24 hours

 

[Far_King]

Leaves can be used to drop pH - sounds like they work.  Can you provide a list perhaps of everything that goes into each tank?  Whether it be additives or something you place in the filter, leaves, cones, substrates (both sand I'm guessing?).  It might just help build up a picture.

 

[Akasha72]

Of course.
 
Main Tank 
 
240 litres, Unipac sand substrate, heavily planted with Amazon swords, echinodorus, crypts, tigar lotus, java fern, and anubias. Large lump of bogwood and several smaller pieces, slate rock. Two external filters with ceramic media and sponges only addition is phosphate remover and fine filter wool. Other additions easylife Profito fertilizer and easycarbo, food (obviously) Dechlorinated with API Tap Water Conditioner.
 
 
Fry Tank 
 
30 litres, Unipac sand substrate (same as main tank) planted with cabomba and anubias, some java moss and a moss ball. Internal filter with sponges. No wood just a couple of small stones holding down the moss ball. Was some leaf litter (oak leaves) now all removed. No additions other than food.
 
Food 
 
Tetra Prima, New Era catfish pellets, New Era plec pellet, frozen blocks of bloodworm, artemia, tropical mix 
 
 
Hope that helps