substrate

Tyranttwo

Hello Everyone,
I am new to Aquarium fish tanks.
When i started my Aquarium i bought Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum Aquasoil.

I discovered today that my pH is too low for most fish.
My problem is, the aquasoil lowers pH.(the disaster)

Saturday did 40% water change pH was 7.0, yesterday pH 6.4 and this morning pH 6 or below.
I have 2 red eyed tetra(small) and cycling tank. Had 2 times when ammonia went back to 0 and this morning ammonia was 0. Had piece of driftwood but removed it on Saturday to test wether that was cause of low pH. I read an article this morning about causes for low pH, driftwood and aquasoil I am using lower pH, looks like too low.

Can i use shell grit or something else to counteract Aquasoil, or will i have to replace aquasoil with something else?

TallTree01

If it's too low than it probably won't stop lowering the pH for a while. It may be best to replace it with something less acidic. It is more important to keep the pH at a stable level. Most of the time, it is instability that kills the fish not just an unsuitable pH.

Tyranttwo

TallTree01 said:

If it's too low than it probably won't stop lowering the pH for a while. It may be best to replace it with something less acidic. It is more important to keep the pH at a stable level. Most of the time, it is instability that kills the fish not just an unsuitable pH.

I have just finished 4th week into cycling tank and I am advised that I will get swings in pH levels while kH is zero, 1 put a couple of handfuls of shell grit on substrate a couple of days ago to raise kH but no effect. About noon today I put a bit more shell grit on substrate, then at 6:20pm tested pH 6.4, kH 0 so it seems as though I was panicking a little.

I will keep adding shell grit to substrate until I get reading on kH to stabilise pH and cycle tank a bit longer.

Thanks for comment TallTree01,they were very useful.

I feel a bit better after doing some research and will probably look to stock fish more suitable for pH levels of my tank.

Heintz.G

Hi Tyranttwo and welcome,

Just out of curiosity are you on tank or town water? take some readings straight from the water out of the tap and post your results,.

Now, tank size, filter, if you have a canister you could also put some coral rubble in a stocking in the filter to raise the PH,GH,KH just have to experiment to get the readings to what you are after.

Tyranttwo

Heintz.G said:

Hi Tyranttwo and welcome,

Just out of curiosity are you on tank or town water? take some readings straight from the water out of the tap and post your results,.

Now, tank size, filter, if you have a canister you could also put some coral rubble in a stocking in the filter to raise the PH,GH,KH just have to experiment to get the readings to what you are after.

Hello Heintz.G,

I use town water, did 100% water change in my quarantine tank(12 ltr tank) yesterday and tested pH 7.2, today got reading pH 7.6

I have a 3 ft tank, 150 litres
Canister filter fluval 206

Thanks for the advice, I will gradually keep adding shell grit to substrate until I am getting reading with kH to help stabilise pH, I am not sure but I think putting in filter only lasts a few days. So putting in substrate will last longer.