Beneficial bacteria and PH.

[robby ram]

Do beneficial bacteria die when the PH is too low?

if thats the case, would the ammonia spike?

[Eddie]

Do beneficial bacteria die when the PH is too low?

if thats the case, would the ammonia spike?

Yes, and yes if you bring the PH back up it should spike but shouldn't matter below 7. Why?

Eddie

[robby ram]

Yes, and yes if you bring the PH back up it should spike but shouldn't matter below 7. Why?

Eddie

I just put tons of driftwood and my ph went down from 6.8 to 6.0 but I am assuming a lot lower than that considering my test kit only goes to 6.0.

My water has low KH to begin with.

[Chad Hughes]

Just add some baking soda. Should get you back in business!

[robby ram]

Just add some baking soda. Should get you back in business!

how much of baking soda for 55 gallon tank?

as in the powder baking soda? how many times do i need to add it?

[Chad Hughes]

Well, it all depends on how low your KH is, but it's not really necessary to know that. Start with a teaspoon (the measuring kind, not a regular spoon). In a glass, mix a cup of your tank water with two teaspoons of baking soda. Stir very well. Add it to your tank and let it circulate for about 15 to 20 minutes and then check your Ph.

If you are around or close to 7 then you're done.

If you're higher than you were when you started and you are happy with the new Ph, then you're done.

If you're not happy and you want to continue adding, I wold calculate how much your Ph increased and then add the same (2 tsp) or less (1 tsp) based on the amount of the rise.

Remember, it's easier to ad than take away unless you are in the mood for a water change tonight.

Best wishes!

[robby ram]

Do I need keep adding baking soda every WC?

can i use the same baking soda i store in the refrigerator?

[Eddie]

Do I need keep adding baking soda every WC?

can i use the same baking soda i store in the refrigerator?

Yes, and yes until the wood stops leaching into the water, you'll need to add little bit with WCs

Eddie

[Chad Hughes]

Normal baking soda that you get from the market works. You will likely have to add some with every water change. I use RO water mixed with tap and even though my GH is right on track, my KH is typically low. I add about a tablespoon to 150 gallons to get a KH of 40 ppm. But that's just me. I think that puts my Ph at around 6.8. My tank is planted and I inject CO2, so I drive the Ph back down to 6.5 with the CO2. The baking soda buffers against a Ph crash.

What I would do is, after a water change, check your Ph. If it needs adjusting, do so slowly. Your fish will not be stressed during this. You are not changing the TDS of the water, only the carbonate content.

Hope this helps!

[robby ram]

How about crushed coral?

how much of crushed coral for a gallon.

[Chad Hughes]

Crushed coral works. I couldn't tell you how much to add though. Put some in a mesh bag and put it in your filter or tank and keep an eye on things. See where it goes! I once had a tank that had fine coral gravel as sustrate and I didn't know it. I had a Ph of about 10. It was crazy. THat was about 100 lbs of gravel though.

[Eddie]

Crushed coral works. I couldn't tell you how much to add though. Put some in a mesh bag and put it in your filter or tank and keep an eye on things. See where it goes! I once had a tank that had fine coral gravel as sustrate and I didn't know it. I had a Ph of about 10. It was crazy. THat was about 100 lbs of gravel though.

So coral will increase the PH? I never had to use it but thought that it raised it. So raising the KH in turn will raise the PH?

Thanks,

Eddie

[Chad Hughes]

Eddie,

Yes, coral contains calcium carbonate and there for raises KH in return causing Ph to rise. You used to use baking soda in your water, right? Same thing.

[Eddie]

Eddie,

Yes, coral contains calcium carbonate and there for raises KH in return causing Ph to rise. You used to use baking soda in your water, right? Same thing.

But I only used small amounts to keep the PH from crashing. Now what I want to do is use rain water for possible breeding in the future. I will probably just do a tap/rain mix but wondering how to best stabilize the PH to keep it from crashing. I think the tap may help it.

Eddie

[robby ram]

I remember going to the fish store to check my water. They suggested me this product.

I never used it before.

http://www.shopwiki.com/detail/d=Ken...jumpToFirst=t/

this is basically the same thing like baking soda.

i still have it on the shelf.

Not to sound stupid, so, I need to add this every WC?