Ph?

[asbury030]

What should my PH be at its at 7.8 is that to low?:notsure:

 

[cprdnick]

Definately too low. It needs to be between 8.1 an 8.3. Your ph being too low can kill anything in your tank, I believe that's on the acidic side.

 

[col]

Asbury
What's in your tank, is it cycled yet?
What are alk (KH) and calcium levels.
Don't start adding buffer or anything yet, I just did and now my readings have gone beserk.
My fish, shrimps, snails, crabs etc have been at 7.7 - 7.8 for over a year now and have been fine. Corals will be different.
Tread carefully at this stage.

 

[bang guy]

What's the average PH over a 24 hour period?

 

[asbury030]

yea it has been cyled for about 2 weeks.

 

[col]

alk and calcium levels?

 

[asbury030]

i dont have a test kit for that.

 

[col]

I know it's a pain but you definitley need to test for both alk and calcium when you are having ph trouble.

 

[asbury030]

oh ok monday i will take it to my lfs and get it tested.

 

[col]

I would buy the test kits, you are going to need them.

 

[asbury030]

how much do both of them cost?

 

[nas19320]

The price is gonna be determined by the brand. I would look at getting Salifert or LaMotte test kits. Though they are a little more expensive then most brands they are very accurate and worth the money.