RAC soil users come in.

[noidea]

How long it take for your RAC soil lower the water Ph to 6.5 during new tank setup.

I just set up a new shrimp planted tank. The Ph stay at 7.5 for the last few days. There is no light turn on. TDS at 95.

[titusxc]

Hi can ask what media are you using? Any items which causes KH issues will have problems with PH. So maybe you can see what other things causing the ph so high

[noidea]

I am using biohome and biohime +. I put the whole packet of humic powder and one more packet that is clay. Using koke stone too.

[Aquarist Chamber]

How long it take for your RAC soil lower the water Ph to 6.5 during new tank setup.

I just set up a new shrimp planted tank. The Ph stay at 7.5 for the last few days. There is no light turn on. TDS at 95.

Hello noidea,

How long have you been cycling the tank?
Would you be able to bring some soil from your tank to pass us for testing?

Do drop us a call tomorrow and we shall rectify the issue..

Thank you and sorry for inconvenience...

[noidea]

I just started the tank a few days but some of the soil have been layout for a few month. But I bought the soil from you guy a few months ago. Two packet of soil is layout recently, one is big gravel and the other is fine powder form.

Only have time to set up the tank recently.

[rascal]

hi, Im a RAC user. Hmm.. Since you got issue i straight away check my ph. I using API test kit so Min. ph it will show is 6. But im sure its within 5.5-6PH. May I know how long your setup is.

IMG-20140901-WA0018.jpg

visit my Blog at http://rascal-collections.tumblr.com to see how I setup. May be the way you setup got differant or what. Dont worry I think give time to let it run first before editing it.

[titusxc]

I think the media is raising the ph?

[noidea]

hi, Im a RAC user. Hmm.. Since you got issue i straight away check my ph. I using API test kit so Min. ph it will show is 6. But im sure its within 5.5-6PH. May I know how long your setup is.

IMG-20140901-WA0018.jpg

visit my Blog at http://rascal-collections.tumblr.com to see how I setup. May be the way you setup got differant or what. Dont worry I think give time to let it run first before editing it.

The tank is setup one week old. Saturday did a 80 percent water change after 4 days of starting the tank cycling. I am using a new pH meter. Just now it show a drop from 7.5 to 7.4.

[titusxc]

Hmm my RAC soil already 9months old... Ph 6.2 plus minus.

[noidea]

I think the media is raising the ph?

I have no experience from using bio home and bio home plus. My friend tell me to fill up the canister with bio home.

[Urban Aquaria]

Just a possible factor to check, how much soil are you using and what is the size/volume of the tank?

The amount of soil vs water volume may affect its pH reducing ability... if too little soil is used (compared to the water volume), the pH may not decrease as much (and vice versa).

[noidea]

Just a possible factor to check, how much soil are you using and what is the size/volume of the tank?

The amount of soil vs water volume may affect its pH reducing ability... if too little soil is used (compared to the water volume), the pH may not decrease as much (and vice versa).

My tank is L 120cm, water height is 45 cm, width is 40 cm. I use up 5 packet of RAC soil. Not sure whether it is too little for the tank of this size.

[noidea]

Hmm my RAC soil already 9months old... Ph 6.2 plus minus.

Did the pH slowly goes down to 6.2 or when starting a already is at this pH level.

[Subdave]

i have been using rca soil from Aquarist chamber too for the past 4 months. but over the past 2 weeks the ph has been rising from a 6.4to a 6.9 now. i used 1inch for 2ft tank. is the soil expiring? cause i also stated detecting ammonia...

Hello noidea,

How long have you been cycling the tank?
Would you be able to bring some soil from your tank to pass us for testing?

Do drop us a call tomorrow and we shall rectify the issue..

Thank you and sorry for inconvenience...

[Urban Aquaria]

My tank is L 120cm, water height is 45 cm, width is 40 cm. I use up 5 packet of RAC soil. Not sure whether it is too little for the tank of this size.

If each RAC soil pack is 8kg, then you'll be using 5 x 8kg = 40kg of soil in the tank.

Considering your tank volume works out to around 216 liters, 40kg of soil you used is around 18% of the tank volume, so i'd think that should be a sufficient amount of soil to generate a pH buffering effect.

Looks like you have to check with AC and see what they advise, maybe they can offer more insight into it.

[noidea]

If each RAC soil pack is 8kg, then you'll be using 5 x 8kg = 40kg of soil in the tank.

Considering your tank volume works out to around 216 liters, 40kg of soil you used is around 18% of the tank volume, so i'd think that should be a sufficient amount of soil to generate a pH buffering effect.

Looks like you have to check with AC and see what they advise, maybe they can offer more insight into it.

Thanks. Will contact AC.

[noidea]

My pH drop to 7.3 today.

I am thinking whether to get ketapan leave to lower the pH or change out 5 kg of biohome media to other media or go buy some more RAC soil to add into the tank.

[QuintKana]

I had similar issue with my previous soil (not RAC) which was only about 3 months old.
I changed the bio media (2 trays) to biohome standard and my PH jumped to 7.3-7.6 (initially was slightly below 6.5).
Added ketapang leaves and sera peat to try to save the tank but all no use.

In the end I had to reset my tank.
Took out 1 tray of biohome, boiled the remaining tray of biohome and then filled half a tray back into the canister.
Reset with RAC soil and my PH is now at 5.3.

[Subdave]

bro what did AC reply

My pH drop to 7.3 today.

I am thinking whether to get ketapan leave to lower the pH or change out 5 kg of biohome media to other media or go buy some more RAC soil to add into the tank.

[noidea]

bro what did AC reply

I need to bring the soil down to test whether it is the soil problem.