Ph problem ?

drsteve2001

drsteve2001

Member
check my PH last week it was at 8.0...today it was at 7.8...should i let it go...water change or add the PH Hold stuff? Also my Nitrates are at 40..to high? at this time Fish only tank. The tank has been up and running 5 months but coverted from CC to sand 3 weeks ago. I use distilled water. Just found my emerald crab dead that i put in last Sunday...not sure when he passed
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
Originally Posted by drsteve2001
http:///forum/post/3204870
check my PH last week it was at 8.0...today it was at 7.8...should i let it go...water change or add the PH Hold stuff? Also my Nitrates are at 40..to high? at this time Fish only tank. The tank has been up and running 5 months but coverted from CC to sand 3 weeks ago. I use distilled water. Just found my emerald crab dead that i put in last Sunday...not sure when he passed
water change time. Also you sure it is a dead crab and not a molt. I would not worry about it to much I have a hard time keeping emarilds for some reason every other crab I got live perfectly happy but emarilds seem to die on me in a month or to
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Low pH and high (or measureable?) nitrates are a sign there is not enough plant life (macro algae, corraling algae etc) to balance out the aquarium.
Macros and other plant life, will maintain nitrates at unmeasureable levels and their consuming of carbon dioxide will result in higher pH values.
my .02
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
first off DO A WATER CHANGE. 7.8 is not that bad not good you want 8.2. Do you have a sump to grow macro alge. chetao works good for nitrate removal with a good skimmer. How much rock to you have? Flow all that adds a even biger part than chetao imo
 
veni vidi vici

veni vidi vici

Active Member
Originally Posted by drsteve2001
http:///forum/post/3204870
check my PH last week it was at 8.0...today it was at 7.8...should i let it go...water change or add the PH Hold stuff? Also my Nitrates are at 40..to high? at this time Fish only tank. The tank has been up and running 5 months but coverted from CC to sand 3 weeks ago. I use distilled water. Just found my emerald crab dead that i put in last Sunday...not sure when he passed
8.0-7.8 pH is fine,pH will fluctuate during the course of the day so if your testing to see if its changing make sure you test at the same times. I wouldnt worry about 7.8 though, just keep to your regular water changes and keep an eye on your pH to make sure its not dropping to much lower.If it is then there are many reasons on why.But you dont want to start blindly adding supplements to your water.
I would just start by testing at the same time of day preferably right before the lights go out at night.
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
Originally Posted by Veni Vidi Vici
http:///forum/post/3205432
8.0-7.8 pH is fine,pH will fluctuate during the course of the day so if your testing to see if its changing make sure you test at the same times. I wouldnt worry about 7.8 though, just keep to your regular water changes and keep an eye on your pH to make sure its not dropping to much lower.If it is then there are many reasons on why.But you dont want to start blindly adding supplements to your water.
I would just start by testing at the same time of day preferably right before the lights go out at night.
+1 agreed and you cant go off ph alone test alk and calcium first ph swings way to much during the day. I rarely ever test for it any more to many scares for nothing.
 
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