Amazing Discoveries!
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:03 pm
I am absolutely thrilled with my findings. I've posted in the past about my frustrations with keeping nitrates below 40. Some think I'm overstocked or feeding too much, and feeding high protein meals predominantly...
At my old house I didn't have these issues. I didn't check water parameters and fish were doing just fine. In the new house things changed. I've been here for over a year now and I've finally made a breakthrough. PH! I still hadn't bothered checking it, but something told me to take a sample to my local lfs. It was extremely acidic. I couldn't believe it. I have chlorinated city water and the last thing I expected was an acidic reading. I siphon gravel, clean filters etc. So, I bought a PH test kit and I had to check my own tank water and sure enough it was acidic--6.0 or less. When I checked the tap water it's well over 8! So I decided to take a small bucket of tap water which I aerated and then let stand for 48 hours testing after 24 hrs then 48. The PH is at neutral exactly. So my tap water has no buffering ability?
So, to make a long story short, over the course of 48 hours, I brought the PH up to 6.8-7.0 by adding crushed coral. I began with 3/4 of a cup for a 55 gallon, and tested after 24 hrs. Went up to 6.4. Then added another 1/2 cup to bring to current level after an additional 24 hrs. Also, and this is the most exciting change, the mopey clowns have come alive again ( I added an air stone bar too ). AND the roots of the golden pothos that I have in the tank and filter to help aid in nitrate removal have taken off!! They have noticeably grown over the last few days. I can't believe it! So is it safe to say the roots don't thrive in such an acidic atmosphere?
So, I'm thrilled with these positive changes. I'm tickled many shades of pink and I wanted to share my joy. Maybe someone who has similar struggles and issues can get something out of this. My nitrates are at about 20 after another water change but I'm hoping the plants can really do their job now. The initial nitrate test out of the tap is zero, but wonder if that reading could change if I leave the water out after 24 hrs? Something tells me that won't make a difference but going to try just the same.
At my old house I didn't have these issues. I didn't check water parameters and fish were doing just fine. In the new house things changed. I've been here for over a year now and I've finally made a breakthrough. PH! I still hadn't bothered checking it, but something told me to take a sample to my local lfs. It was extremely acidic. I couldn't believe it. I have chlorinated city water and the last thing I expected was an acidic reading. I siphon gravel, clean filters etc. So, I bought a PH test kit and I had to check my own tank water and sure enough it was acidic--6.0 or less. When I checked the tap water it's well over 8! So I decided to take a small bucket of tap water which I aerated and then let stand for 48 hours testing after 24 hrs then 48. The PH is at neutral exactly. So my tap water has no buffering ability?
So, to make a long story short, over the course of 48 hours, I brought the PH up to 6.8-7.0 by adding crushed coral. I began with 3/4 of a cup for a 55 gallon, and tested after 24 hrs. Went up to 6.4. Then added another 1/2 cup to bring to current level after an additional 24 hrs. Also, and this is the most exciting change, the mopey clowns have come alive again ( I added an air stone bar too ). AND the roots of the golden pothos that I have in the tank and filter to help aid in nitrate removal have taken off!! They have noticeably grown over the last few days. I can't believe it! So is it safe to say the roots don't thrive in such an acidic atmosphere?
So, I'm thrilled with these positive changes. I'm tickled many shades of pink and I wanted to share my joy. Maybe someone who has similar struggles and issues can get something out of this. My nitrates are at about 20 after another water change but I'm hoping the plants can really do their job now. The initial nitrate test out of the tap is zero, but wonder if that reading could change if I leave the water out after 24 hrs? Something tells me that won't make a difference but going to try just the same.