Chris&Nicole Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Hey guys and girls. My tank is now almost 4 weeks old. Nitrite is perfect, Nitrate is perfect, Ammonia is perfect but my pH is yellow (around 6??) It was bang on 7.0 when I started the tank and the only changes I have made are adding a big piece of bog wood and plants two weeks ago. I have a silver shark, angel, two black widows and a barb in there atm (260L). Is it the wood or plants causing the pH to drop? Any recommendations to get it back to 7.0? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 The wood can cause it to drop a little. I wouldn't worry too much unless your fish have very, very specific requirements (sorry I don't know anything about tropicals, me=native fish nut). Generally it is much better for the pH to be stable rather than fluctuating (as can happen if you tamper with it chemically). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Hey guys and girls. My tank is now almost 4 weeks old. Nitrite is perfect, Nitrate is perfect, Ammonia is perfect but my pH is yellow (around 6??) It was bang on 7.0 when I started the tank and the only changes I have made are adding a big piece of bog wood and plants two weeks ago. I have a silver shark, angel, two black widows and a barb in there atm (260L). Is it the wood or plants causing the pH to drop? Any recommendations to get it back to 7.0? Water changes, the wood will soften and drop the ph a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catfish Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Water changes, the wood will soften and drop the ph a bit. Yep I agree. You can buy things to raise the ph but it's best if you can allow it to come up naturally, easier on the fish too as they don't like sudden changes. As long as your Nitrites, Nitrates and Ammonia are low the fish should be fine for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 A small amount of crushed shell or coral in your filter will help bring it back up. Forget about things like pH up or baking soda, as Stella said its better to be stable than bang on 7.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 This is interesting as my ph has always been on about 7. I live on the North Shore too and just tested my tanks ph is on 6. Tested the tap water and ph is 6.4. Maybe its all that rain we had. I hadn't tested for about three weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 My pH sits on 6 and comes out the tap at 7.4 - driftwood will lower it. Unless your fish require higher pH leave it as it is better to have a stable pH than to have one that alters all the time. Adjusting it unnecessarily will cost you time and money and you will risk swings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 ...I have a silver shark, angel, two black widows and a barb in there atm ... IMO all those fish will be fine with a pH of 6.0 - don't do anything to change the pH and the fish will live in there quite happily. Just make sure when you are introducing new fish that you acclimatise them slowly. If they are coming from a tank with a higher pH they will need time to adapt to the lower pH in your tank. (I had a sad experience that taught me this lesson ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris&Nicole Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Thanks for all your help guys. They seem fine but I guess I have just been used to PH of 7 in my old tank and now all of a sudden when I change tank theme and add a massive piece of wood it dropped. I wonder about that rainwater comment though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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