fins Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 becoming more acidic. I finally got a pH test last night and tested my tap water, it was 7.4 which would have been right. I then took the results of my 112 litre tank, it was 6, but what I dont understand is why is my water more acidic. The tank has a filter, a heater and a thin layer a gravel. The rest of my tanks are about 6.4. And only have gravel, heaters, filters, water and fish. I havnt played with my waters chemistry. Is it leftover food that is causing this? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 tauranga tap water in bad at going acidic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted July 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Anyone know what I could do about this, Will the pH up that I got with the pH test work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 The natural tendancy for most aquarium water is to become more acidic (a combination of things - not all of which apply for you - dissolved CO2; humic/tannic acids leaching from wood; and dissolved nitrogen compounds forming nitrous acid - from fish waste products and rotting food). The comment from Dennis about Tauranga water being bad for going acid indicates to me that Tauranga water must be soft (hard water has more dissolved minerals in it, these increase the buffering capacity of the water - buffering capacity is just the ability to resist pH changes). There are a number of things you could do to increase the pH - using the pH up would do it (the cheaper form of pH up is baking soda from the supermarket) - just be aware that it's not a permanent fix - you'll have to keep on using it to keep your pH at the desired level. Alternatively you can had a small amount of limestone or crushed shell to the tank. These will gradually dissolve, as they do they increase the pH (and also water hardness). If using pH up remember that any pH change (if fish are actually in the tank) should be gradual perhaps .1-.2 per day. It's also another reason to do regular water changes - so that the pH gets bumped up again when the new tap water goes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted July 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 I actuly just did a %20 on my 112 litre tank and the pH went from 6 to 6.4. I will probably do the same tomorow. Does anyone know where to buy limestone or crushed oyster shell? thanks for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 You can buy bags of oyster grit from the super market or from a caged bird supplies shop. Just add a small amount (handful) in a nylon stocking bag or something and alow the water to filter over it. This will change the pH gradually... and more importantly... it will do it slowly. Change the grit once a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 You have it on the beach just down from where you live Fins Shove it in a bag, then into the cannister filter, or a pillow over the U/G filter Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kim Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 gravel, driftwood and rocks all play a part in ph!! alot of people use brightwater gravel because its cheap and they like the gray colour, but it goes down to a low ph of 6 sometimes even 5 i dont know if this is the gravel you are using but that could be the reason, as Pegasus said oyster shell works well but it only lasts for 6months so do check your ph, when you first use it check it daily because it can go sky high! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted July 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 I use gravel that is a whole lot of colours, I think its called fruit salad. Could I just use normal shells to raise the buffering capacity of my water, as there is an estuary about 2 minutes away from my house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 The shells should work fins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted July 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 If I were to get shells when the weather clears up should I put them in the oven? Will it make a difference to how it effects the water? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 they are just calcium fins. They gradually get absorbed by the acid in the water. That's the easiesr way to explain it Ever seen a tank with snails in it yhat have whitish shells? Those tanks are certain to be acidic. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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