Help! Dusty tank & low Ph

kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
:confused:
Something odd is happening to my tank and I haven't been able to diagnose the problem with research. Could someone please help me!?
Background: Tank is new; 75 gallons; water and 80lbs live sand in the tank for 3-4 weeks; I have not yet added the aquascaping; Running wet/dry filter, canister filter with carbon, uv sterilizer. Last night I ran tests for the first time: PH 8.0; Nitrate 0.0, Nitrite 0.0, Ammonia 0.0, ag .019, temp 78.
I noticed during the daytime, when I can see in the tank without turning on the light, that tiny white particles are floating around my tank. They look like the dust you see floating in the air on a sunny day (yes, I admit that my house has dust). I'm not sure if it is sand particles that have not yet settled and I need to rinse my filters and sponges again, or if I'm dealing with something else.
Also, my PH is lower than it should be. I know that I can raise it with chemicals, but is there a way to do it naturally? I want stability without constant worry that it is dropping.
I am excited to begin adding the aquascaping, then the fish, but don't want to do anything further until I deal with these issues.
THANK YOU! Kimmysue
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
You can raise your PH buy adding a t-spoon of baking soda to a glass of your tank water. Mix this thoroughly and then pour this into your filter. Do this daily until your PH is where you want it.
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
:notsure: I just read on an old post that low salinity could mean low ph. I need to raise my salinity, so would that potentially solve my second problem?
Still stumped on the dusty H2O.
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
I added more salt, so I will retest tomorrow. If this does not work, I will add baking soda. Thanks for the great idea! Trainfever, is your user name from a second hobby - trains? We are train collectors too.
Does anybody know about the dust-like particles in my tank? I'm stumped as to if it could be sand, undissolved salt, or an unidentified problem. :happyfish
 
E

exile415

Guest
i would use buffer but if you want to you can use baking soda.
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
Actually trains are my first hobby. My trains are worth almost as much as my house. LOL I was going to set up an aquarium in the basement but then I figured that would be way too risky with all my trains displayed on the walls. Saltwater and metal trains don't go together too well. :)
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Before adding buffer, get an alkalinity reading!!!!!!
This is a complex relationship (alkalinity, pH and calcium). If your alkalinity is fine, then you may have a circulation problem, not a buffer problem!
"Just adding buffer" can lead to additional problems down the road. As you are new to this, learn to avoid the "just add buffer" line and get into a good habit of checking and following alkalinity.
A STABLE pH of 8.0 is fine...nothing I would worry about. Check in the morning before lights on, and at night after lights off. Do you have any powerheads in the tank? Does your return from the filter aggitate the surface of the water?
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
ophiura, I have a spray bar and return elbow from the wet/dry filter. You can see movement across the entire surface of my tank - not a strong current, but movement.
My testing kit did not come with calcium or alkalinity tests. I will have to purchase them from my LFS. If I do end up with a alkalinity or calcium problem what would that mean? Based on your response, good readings would mean I would need a powerhead to agitate more H2O? Also, if my research is correct on this website, a calcium problem could result in the dust-like white things floating in my tank.
Thanks for the suggestions. I want to fix the problem before adding fish. The process has been a very slow one for us, since we bought the tank back in December. We are too nervous to make a costly and deadly mistake for our future fish to rush.
My LFS is 45-60 minutes away, and we are going out of town for a couple of days, so I won't be able to purchase the kit until the weekend (I'm pregnant with a toddler so travel is not easy:sleepy: ). Thanks for the plan!!!! I'll post my new test readings as soon as I get the kit.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
To be honest, a pH of 8.0 really doesn't concern me all that much. I would start just be getting a "low point" reading (morning) and a "high point" reading (night) to get a feel for fluctuation.
The circulation question can be easily tested...if you take a gallon or so of water, aerate it overnight with an airstone, and find that the pH in the bucket is higher than in your tank, then you might have a build up of CO2 in the tank.
At this point it sounds like you are not rushing (and how can you!!?? :D ) so that is great. This will all come into line in time :)
Is your tank actually cloudy? Do you see white "dust" on things like your heater? Or is it clear with a few particles floating around?
YOur tank will eventually stabilize. Do you plan on doing corals? Often water changes are enough for keeping a fish only tank in line...with corals, you will be dosing for calcium, and probably for alkalinity. As you test your tank, and learn how much is being consumed, you will get a feel for keeping everything in line. :)
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
My water is actually clear. Mainly it is just tiny white specs floating in my clear water. I have cloudy build up on the overflow tank, return elbow and canister filter's intake tube and spraybar. Not sure if it is salt creep or something else. The wet/dry filter just seems to have salt creep. I planned on scraping everything off when I shut down the system to add my aquascape.
Right now my plan is to hopefully have the aquascape and a couple of clown fish before the end of June, so I can get use to the upkeep and feeding before the baby arrives. I may get a shrimp and/or hermit crab depending on my research.
Future fish will be put off until at least the fall, and I'm not going to attempt a reef tank yet. I need time for kids and aquarium reseach for my current fish plans...at present reef tanks intimidate me :eek:
I'll add an airstone to my shopping list, begin testing PH twice daily and hopefully be able to diagnose the tank by the weekend. Funny, my husband's birthday present has become my obsession/hobby.:joy:
 
T

tizzo

Guest
That dust looking stuff on the surface is eliminated with a good skimmer. But the fact that you can see it may indicate that you don't have enough surface agitation. Do you have plenty? If not that would contribute to the low ph prob... And you got a lot of advice so far... heed Ophiuras recomendation...don't add anything your not testing for. If you don't have test kits, take a sample to your LFS and get an alkalinity and calcium test. If the calcium is low get a magnesium test too!!
Yes, you will be a chemist after all!!:D
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
I am currently running a 45 Watt pondmaster pump in my wet/dry filter and a eheim 2215. The pump is capable of pumping 90 gallons/hour if I'm reading the specs right. The LFS said that I had enough circulation and filtration, and didn't necessarily need a protein skimmer...:thinking: but I've learned from this website to question all their logic!
 
T

tizzo

Guest
90 gallons per hour!?!?
You need closer to 1350 gallons per hour (at minimum) to be confident that you are properly oxygenating your tank and keeping detritus/uneaten food from settling and rotting.
Order a good skimmer, bak pak and Remora are good candidates that hang onto the tank. With it order at least 4 maxijet 900 powerheads. (Maxijet is my fav, you can look around for other opinions). And those test kits if you don't have them.
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
The directions said 450 gal per 1 ft height. That would mean 450 divided by appx 5ft height, correct? Making my pump well under what is needed.:notsure: If that is correct, I've wasted more money at the LFS. I wish I found this website before sinking all the money into mistakes!
I don't have a lot of space left under my tank. I probably need a sump for my protein skimmer and new pump, correct?
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Those skimmers I mentioned actually hang onto the back of the tank. I don't know how to calculate for that pump. It usually has a chart on the box. But either way, you definately need more current. I would purchase on line, it is much cheaper and the guy at the LFS didn't help much.:rolleyes:
Do you have any live rock?? If you have/get enough, you can do away with the Eheim.
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
No live rock yet...no rock at at all actually. Just live sand and salt water currently. I'm going to begin researching protein skimmers online. Thanks for all the great ideas today...I have a lot to buy it looks like. I may post more questions on this thread as I research the protein skimmer, powerhead and testing kits.
I feel better knowing that I'm getting a good diagnosis and not rushing ahead...potentially killing future fish. WHAT AN OBSESSION THIS HAS BECOME! :hilarious
 
kimmysue

kimmysue

Member
Quick question...
The Remora Pro (40-120 gal) protein skimmer hangs on the back and comes with a pump and I believe a powerhead. Would this be sufficient to agitate my water's surface (especially if I put it on the opposite side of my tank than the return elbow and spray bar)?
 
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