****update**** Yorkshire Water Ph Change

[KittyKat]

it sounds very technical and I have to say I don't have a good head for technical. I do a good 30 litre water change every week so as I still don't reall fully understand I need to ask ... Is 30 litres (tank is 100 litres roughly) enough?

I did about 60 litres this week and the fish have been a lot more active since so maybe 30 isn't enough

That depends on your tank… What is your tap water nitrate? What is the tank nitrate? Are your fish young or old? Is the tank heavily or lightly stocked?

For the average tank, 15-25% per week seems enough, but if your tank is heavily stocked or has only young fish, then larger water changes could help.

Tap water needs to be stood for 24 hours because of dissolved CO[sub]2[/sub] (which makes the pH appear lower than it really is), although I have seen a few cases where tap water pH actually rose after 24 hours!

Tank water should be tested immediately on taking it, as you want to know the conditions in the tank itself

As much as the above is all correct, i dont see how its relevant anyway. This would only be true if the OP normally tests tap water after 24hrs, but this occasion tested imemdiately.

Since the OP always tests straight from the tap, its good they've done the same, for the sake of continuity (even if the method is flawed). Had the same been left and for arguements sake had dropped over the 24hrs, this could have shown an even bigger drop than 7 to 6, and further worried the OP.

It might have made more sense if I had not made a typo earlier, I have corrected it above. It is relevant since the OP was asking about the difference between tap water and tank water, and I have seen tap water pH change in both directions at the 24 hour point.

 

[Akasha72]

the ages of my fish vary. My guppies are old - I've had them a year so I'd guess they are about 18 months old or so. My platy/molly cross is about the same age. The rest of my platies vary from about a year old down to 3 months (fry born in the tank) My cories are still young. Only the bronze pair are about fully grown now.

My tank nitrate runs at 5 - can't remember what the tap nitrate is.

So do you think 30 litre water change is enough once a week? or should I increase that a bit?

 

[Mowbz]

It might have made more sense if I had not made a typo earlier, I have corrected it above. It is relevant since the OP was asking about the difference between tap water and tank water, and I have seen tap water pH change in both directions at the 24 hour point.

See your point..

 

[Spurry]

just over a week my massive water change and PH is holding at 6ppm in the tank and still 6ppm out of the tap


so i guess it all ok......

 

[Spurry]

ive just done water test on my tank water and all is well, but PH was 5.5/6 but defo under 6
i just tested my tap water and it back to 7 guess Yorkshire water are messing again

so im going to do big water change, i was wondering if you agree with me on doing a big water change?

cheers

 

[KittyKat]

ive just done water test on my tank water and all is well, but PH was 5.5/6 but defo under 6
i just tested my tap water and it back to 7 guess Yorkshire water are messing again

so im going to do big water change, i was wondering if you agree with me on doing a big water change?

Do you have KH and GH test kits? If not, it would be well worth investing in them, with your water!

Large water change is fine… but you obviously need to take the extra precautions and treat it like acclimatisation. In other words, you're probably going to have to drip the new water into the tank over a few hours so that the hardness does not change too fast.

 

[IcQb]

Please make sure you test your pH at the same time every day.

pH values fluctuate from morning to evening. It is lowest in the morning, but it rises until the evening because plants use CO2 during light-hours.

During night-time, CO2 builds up until morning, and the pH will lower accordingly.

pH is closely related to your KH-values and to the CO2 cycle

 

[Spurry]

Do you have KH and GH test kits?

ive been thinking of getting them

Please make sure you test your pH at the same time every day.

pH values fluctuate from morning to evening. It is lowest in the morning, but it rises until the evening because plants use CO2 during light-hours.

During night-time, CO2 builds up until morning, and the pH will lower accordingly.

pH is closely related to your KH-values and to the CO2 cycle

thanks i normally do every think after work anyway so would normally be around the same time
any how ive done my normal 40lts water change, going to leave it a bit then test water

cheers

 

[Mikaila31]

I would suggest adding baking soda to your tank to help hold the pH so it doesn't drop lower then the tap and get a GH and KH kit.

 

[Spurry]

I would suggest adding baking soda

why

And it's the tap water that changed its back at 7 now
It's never changed before

 

[Spurry]

Home from work now so I've tested the tap water and its 7ppm
And after the 40lts water change the tank is just in the middle Of 6/6.5ppm
So a few more water changes and it will be back to 7 ish