pH question...

[theSaj]

Okay, I recently did a 20% water change, as well as using StressCoat to treat the water and remove chlorine, etc. before adding to tank.  This followed a large upheaval, re-decoration, re-planting on my part.

Shortly there after I seemed to have a somewhat low pH.  Now I have a couple peices of driftwood and utilized tap water for the change.  Um, what would you recommend?

Is this like a temporary thing. My nitrite levels were bit high too, but this was shortly after the whole tank was stirred up.

My thought is this, I am going to give it a couple more days and see if it re-balances out. If not, should I use something to raise the pH?

If so what are some of the products you recommend.  (My LFS said I likely wouldn't need to raise my pH and only sold me pH DOWN. *shrug*  So any recommendations?)

 

[ronrca]

I guess the first question is what is the pH?

 

[theSaj]

I'm not perfect with diagnosing and comparing the vial to the card. But it looked to be between 6.0 - 6.5

I had it right at 7.0 before...

 

[ronrca]

What kind of fish do you have?

 

[Backdraft Bagel]

Try testing the pH of your tapwater (or whatever you're adding to the aquarium, BEFORE you add it in).

Check that against your aquarium's existing pH. It could be that your tapwater pH is very low, "crashing" your aquarium's pH when you do a water change, but then evening out over hours/days.

The nitrite levels being higher after a water change is normal too.

 

[theSaj]

Cool, this is my first endeavor with aquariums in approx. 10yrs.

And the first time doing live plants, water testing, etc.

Quite the learning experience...

As for my fish...

TOP-FISH: African Butterfly

MID-FISH:A couple rainbows, danios, swordtails and ghost catfish...

BOTTOM-FISH: Pleco, twig cat, some loaches, shrimp, knife fish.

Fish seem to be doing okay, glad to know high nitrates is not uncommon after a water change.

Will probably check the water tonight...see how it is.

If the pH is still low, what do you recommend?

 

[ronrca]

Well, nitrites after a water change should not be happening. There is no reason for it to happen unless you are disturbing your bio culture which you should not be doing either by preforming a water change. That is unless there is something Im not aware of.

About the ph, like Mr. Bagel mentioned, test the water before you add it into the tank. If that seems to be the problem, there are a number of buffering 'stuff' on the market like chemicals in the petstores, crushed seashells, rocks, etc. I would suggest adding chemicals to the tapwater before adding into the tank. There are also other additional buffers you can add.

You are mentioned getting nitrite leves, what about ammonia levels?