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Thread: BIG PROBLEM! LOW pH Value!

  1. #1
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    BIG PROBLEM! LOW pH Value!

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    Hi, recently my fishes started dying and measured the pH value, only to discover that is was at pH 4.5

    I did a 50% water change with tap water pH value 8.0 and the tank pH at the end of the water change was 6.0. I turned off my co2 cylinder, so that the pH value will not decrease any futher.

    This morning (after turning on the lights for 3hrs), i saw on my sera co2 test kit that the co2 level was still too high. I measured the pH value again... this time it tested pH 4.5 again.

    What should i do? How come my pH value keeps changing to 4.5 . I did not have such problems a few weeks back, back then my pH was between 6 to 6.5.
    I did not add anything new to my tank. Please advice!

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    Whats your KH? You need to add stuff like baking soda to buffer the water before CO2 injection or else the pH might crash like your scenario.
    Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeiger

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    Maybe you can let us know more information like are using aquasoil or RO water, ion exchange rasin?

    Got to test your kH buffer up with baking soda.
    Cheers!

    Benetay

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    No kH test kit yet... later i go buy one. Sera kH test kits ok right?

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    btw what kind of baking soda do i need to buy, any type is ok right?

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    If i remember correctly , king's brand from NTUC will do. Sera test kits are okay =)

    Benetay
    Cheers!

    Benetay

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    But as long as your KH is above 1. It should be able to buffer the water already.

  8. #8
    cO2 is a acidic oxide. it would alter water pH. CaCO3 or calcium carbonate is basic. in fact, all carbonates are basic. so, carbonates would counter the acidic effect of CO2.

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    Hello..
    Using coral chips would be a better alternative.Last alot longer than baking soda.
    Just add little by little as you test your kh.
    Stop adding once you reached your desired kh.

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    ok. Just got a sera kH test kit.

    On the instructions, its stated that I've to add the reagent drop by drop until the 5ml of tank water changes from blue, via green to yellow. And its mentioned that 1 drop of reagant = 1dkH

    I did that and when i added my first drop of the reagent, the 5ml of tank solution immmediately turned yellow, without turning blue or green. This means my hardness is 1 or less than 1 dkH right?

    Please advice what i should do next.

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    Advices have already been given :

    1. Sodium Bicarbonate (aka Baking Soda). See Aquatic FAQs for dosing details.
    2. Coral chips. Add these into your filter.
    ThEoDoRe

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    I need to know how much dkH should i obtain and as well as how much soda to add

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    1/4 teasp of baking soda to 50 liter of water raises kH by 1 dKH. You may want to target 4 dKH.
    ckchua

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    3-5 should be allright.

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    I just went thru that.. What i realised was that my filter was the main factor (big mistake.. I threw in a small bag of Corarl chips to tahan awhile, then added an airstone for the moment then did a 60-80% water change, i kick started the filter again and all's fine now! Can remove the bag of corals and the airstone already!
    All Men Die . . . . Few Actually Live.

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    ok thanks. Will get my baking soda later

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    Someone posted in AB abt getting the wrong stuff. Turned out that baking powder was added instead of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

    Baking powder has lots of phosphate. The poor soul ended up with lots of algae in tank.

    So, be careful on the purchase []
    ckchua

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    Maybe can add some coral chips in your tank or filter.
    Corydoras: 2 x adolfoi, 1 x agassizii, 5 x albino aeneus, 3 x arcuatus, 4 x atropersonatus, 3 x axelrodi, 6 x axelrodi variante B, 4 x caudimaculatus, 5 x duplicareus, 8 x goldlines, 3 x kanei, 3 x loretoensis, 6 x melini, 4 x panda, 6 x schwartzi, 3 x similis, 4 x sterbai, 4 x surinamensis, 5 x trilineatus, 4 x tukano & 3 x zygatus

    RIP 1 x adolfoi, 1 x albino aeneus & 2 x panda

  19. #19
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    a) do a water change.
    b) you are probably putting in two much co2.

    I've read before that bicarbonate is a temporary fix and the system will revert back to equilibrium.

    perhaps someone can read into the following.

    http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plant.../msg00218.html

    http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plant.../msg00041.html

    try coral chips instead for long term.

  20. #20
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    Nah...it won't happen if you provide enough CO2. Plants that has the ability to utilize bicarbonate as a source of carbon would still prefer CO2 and hence KH loss is not likely unless CO2 supplementation is inadequate. Baking soda is fine and so is coral chips(coral chips add mg and ca as well)...The problem with the use of coral chips is the KH of water tends to increase over time when the acid(CO2) is being added over the week. You would need to monitor and adjust how much CO2 to add to get it in range which is a PITA. Folks overlook this problem when using coral chips and they get BBA which is a problem with low CO2 concentration.
    Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeiger

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