Can low pH cause a bad molt?

I have this small, mabye 1 1/2 in. fire shrimp who right now is missing three legs. I have seen his molt lying on one side of the tank so I concluded two things...
1. My pH, which when I checked was 7.7....
messed with his molt.
or
2. His "Mate" attacked him after he molted.
The reason I think the female could have attacked him is because they both are a real different shade of red. The male is maroon, while the female is scarlet. When I did buy the male, the price tag said it was from Sri Lanka. Also, they have both been staying completely away from each other. Now my salinity is 1.027 (used a refractometer), which is also kind of on the high side. I have no clue how it got like this with high SG and low pH. So since I learned of my low pH, I have started today adding 1 capful of Kent Marine Pro Buffer dKH per day and will continue until I see results (said it would raise pH.) All other inabitants are acting normal. Here is my stock list:
2 percs
1 bicolor blenny
1 black and white feather duster
1 porcelain crab
2 blood shrimp
various snails, hermits, and a conch
The tank is 55 gallons and I run a protein skimmer.
The only problem is that my test kits are over a year old (salifert is expensive...) so I'm not sure if they can be trusted or not. Thanks for the help, I will try and give any more info if I can.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Pick up an API kit for $20, I use that kit myself. The low PH would definately have caused him to molt his shell and loose his legs in the process, or they could have been bitten off afterward. A ph of 7.7 is 10,000 times more acidic than a PH of 8.2. Ph is measured logarithmic. Each point is ten times more than the one before. That is enough to stress a fish severely, let alone a shrimp. Do you know why your PH dropped that low? Shrimp are very vulnerable after a molt and will usuay hide while the new shell hardens because it is the perfect time to be attacked.
 
I have no real clue how it got so low. My test kits might not be right considering they're a year old. Is the buffer I'm using good? Also can my shrimp recover?
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Kent Marine Pro Buffer is a good one but I would not use too much until you pick up a new test kit. The shrimps legs will grow back with his next molt providing that he is not attacked in the meantime.
 
Just thought I'd post some good news, the shrimp gobbled down some Formula 1 so I think that he is recovering. He is pretty much behaving normally, he just wobbles alot because he only has the 3 legs.
 

1journeyman

Active Member
That's great short term, but you've got to track down why your salinity and pH are going out of wack on ya.
High salinity can occur when you don't tap off with fresh water due to evaporation.
pH can drop from lack of water changes, lack of water movement, etc.
 
Hmm I do top of with distilled water (from an H-E-B) every week or two, about 5 or less gallons. However, the low pH might be due to water changes. I had no idea that pH was effected by water changes that much, when I do change my water I use water from a LFS store that I have recieved good animals from almost all the time. I guess I'll just do 5 gallon water changes more often then (once every 2 weeks or 1 weeK?) Tommorow (16th) I'm going over to a LFS to get the test kit Sep suggested to me so I can make sure if my pH is really that low before I continue adding buffer. This week I have added 3 capfulls of the buffer I mentioned earlier. I'm going to go check the pH now. All other inhabitants are acting normal. By the way, can salt creep build up be a cause of this?
 
Little update... Sorry for double post
Checked my pH, it is now around 7.9 so it is slowly rising. The color is just a shade below the 8.0 color on my Salifert color scale.
My salinity is around 1.028 SG and PPT is around 37. I am using a refractometer from SWfish and I believe I calibrated it right.
One last question, is it ok to just add liquid buffer like the one I mentioned before directly to the tank, or should it be mixed in some tankwater first? Thanks for the patience.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Samurai_Sushi
Little update... Sorry for double post
Checked my pH, it is now around 7.9 so it is slowly rising. The color is just a shade below the 8.0 color on my Salifert color scale.
My salinity is around 1.028 SG and PPT is around 37. I am using a refractometer from SWfish and I believe I calibrated it right.
One last question, is it ok to just add liquid buffer like the one I mentioned before directly to the tank, or should it be mixed in some tankwater first? Thanks for the patience.
Now your SG is a little too high. 1.026 is the highest you want to go.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Samurai_Sushi
Hmm I do top of with distilled water (from an H-E-B) every week or two, about 5 or less gallons. However, the low pH might be due to water changes. I had no idea that pH was effected by water changes that much, when I do change my water I use water from a LFS store that I have recieved good animals from almost all the time. I guess I'll just do 5 gallon water changes more often then (once every 2 weeks or 1 weeK?) Tommorow (16th) I'm going over to a LFS to get the test kit Sep suggested to me so I can make sure if my pH is really that low before I continue adding buffer. This week I have added 3 capfulls of the buffer I mentioned earlier. I'm going to go check the pH now. All other inhabitants are acting normal. By the way, can salt creep build up be a cause of this?
What do you have in your tank for water movement? Do you use powerheads? Do you pour the water from your lfs directly into the tank? If you do then start adding it to a bucket with a small powerhead. Mix it for 24hrs then check the ph. If it needs a buffer, add it then and continue to mix for another 12hrs at least. The water may not be completely mixed when you buy it.
 
Originally Posted by sepulatian
What do you have in your tank for water movement? Do you use powerheads? Do you pour the water from your lfs directly into the tank? If you do then start adding it to a bucket with a small powerhead. Mix it for 24hrs then check the ph. If it needs a buffer, add it then and continue to mix for another 12hrs at least. The water may not be completely mixed when you buy it.
I use 1 maxi-jet 600, which I doubt is enough water flow. Flow is the one thing that has always confused me. Think another maxi-jet on the opposite side would do the trick? I'm going to start doing what you say on water changes because yes I used to just pour it in.
Ok here is what I will be doing over this week:
get new test kits
add distilled water to lower the SG
remove any salt creep (I have a feeling that might be contributing to my high SG a little)
slowly add buffer for my pH
do a good water change probobly on Wednesday, mixing it in a bucket with flow. I will make sure the pH is 8.3
I guess I will keep doing this over the Holidays too until my paremeters start getting back on track.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Samurai_Sushi
I use 1 maxi-jet 600, which I doubt is enough water flow. Flow is the one thing that has always confused me. Think another maxi-jet on the opposite side would do the trick? I'm going to start doing what you say on water changes because yes I used to just pour it in.
Ok here is what I will be doing over this week:
get new test kits
add distilled water to lower the SG
remove any salt creep (I have a feeling that might be contributing to my high SG a little)
slowly add buffer for my pH
do a good water change probobly on Wednesday, mixing it in a bucket with flow. I will make sure the pH is 8.3
I guess I will keep doing this over the Holidays too until my paremeters start getting back on track.
I have a 55 with a maxi 1200 on one end and a maxi 900 on the other. I use a maxi 600 in my 20 gallon qt. That is no where near enough flow for a 55. Your plan sounds good. Increase the flow, be sure the water is mixed well, and add buffer if need be.
 

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Samurai_Sushi
....
Ok here is what I will be doing over this week:
get new test kits
add distilled water to lower the SG
remove any salt creep (I have a feeling that might be contributing to my high SG a little)
slowly add buffer for my pH
do a good water change probobly on Wednesday, mixing it in a bucket with flow. I will make sure the pH is 8.3
I guess I will keep doing this over the Holidays too until my paremeters start getting back on track.
Test kits are good. NEVER add a buffer without testing the results.
Increase flow... a lot....
Lower salinity and ask LFS to test salinity as well to make sure you are on same page.
With water changes, decent flow, and enough open space on tank to allow gas exchange (do you have glass covers on your tank) your pH should rise. Your pH should naturally be around 8.4. A buffer should never be needed in an established sw tank.
 
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