rockgurl89 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I have had my ph jump up recently and nothing I do will lower it for long. A friend of mine who has a tank similar to mine (55 litre with a small air pump, heater and a rear hanging filter) was told to remove the driftwood (for the bristlenose to graze on) and replace it with some coral. Apparently this worked well for her. So my question is, would this work? I think the driftwood is my problem, but if I remove it what will my bristlenose (Rodney!) graze on? or is that not a problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Can't see why the driftwood should be the problem. What is the pH of your source water? And what are you trying to achieve, and with what? Do you really need the air pump? That would drive off the CO2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockgurl89 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 ph of my tap water is fine, I checked that. I have the air pump to add some airation to the water as there is little surface agitation, and I like bubbles :thup: I am mainly concerned for my bristlenose as I lost two within the space of two weeks a few months ago. I had all my levels checked and just the ph was high. The ph down doesn't do much apart from keep it low for a few days, and i really need to get the root of the problem. On a side note i have no idea what co2 does in a tank, i thought it was only a thing with planted tanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Just wanting to check what you are asking - is it will coral lower my pH? Adding coral to your tank will take the pH level up not down. Driftwood tends to assist with lowering the pH in the tank and normally as a tank matures the pH level will decrease. What is the pH level in your tank and why do you want to alter it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockgurl89 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Just wanting to check what you are asking - is it will coral lower my pH? yes that is correct. My ph was sitting at 7, but has gone up to 7.5. My last bristlenoses did not do too well at 7.5-8 so that is my concern. If the driftwood is not likely the problem, then what is? I have not changed products recently, or added anything new to the tank. This is an established tank, apart from moving house 2-3 times over 1-2 years it has been well maintained. I do seem to get his problem every so often, but no one can help me &c:ry it driving me crazy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 What is the substrate of the tank? I would have thought that a pH of 7.5 would be OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockgurl89 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I use just like small stones (the neutral brown colours) you can sort of see them in my pic<----- I guess having had it a 7 for so long, i thought there was a problem when it rose. Do you think that this is just the new ph to live with now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I would not worry about it being 7.5 - you will end up with a bigger problem if you keep trying to make the pH drop as it is pH swings that cause fish to stress and deaths. What is your tap pH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 What fish do you have in there?? What substrate do you have?? Personally I wouldn't worry to much about the ph level, sometimes mucking around with it can be worse for your fish so I would just leave it be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 If you want to lower your pH then keep the driftwood in there, although I have never found driftwood to make much difference to the pH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I'ld be adding more driftwood, not taking it out :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 The true pH of your tap water can be determined by taking a bucket of tap water and bubbling it overnight with your air stone. This will help drive off the C02 that is dissolved therein. It might just rise to the pH that you're complaining about. The other way to raise the pH is to add calcium by using a calcium based substrate or adding something. Fish food contains fish meal which includes calcium ( ground up fish bones ). Driftwood doesn't alter pH except by leaching tannins, which turn the water dark and acidic. But this also inhibits the growth of algae. Old driftwood won't do anything, but will provide a food for the BNs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockgurl89 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 thanks for your help everyone I am off on holiday tomorrow so I feel safe (and releived) to leave my tank as is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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