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Post by missdiane on Nov 14, 2013 16:30:12 GMT -5
My 2.5 gallon tank is home to a new Betta. I do twice weekly water changes of 25%. The water is conditioned with Prime & cut 25% with RO water. The water is aged for approx. 36 hours, The aged water tests at a PH of 7.4. Yesterday I tested the tank water before changing & it tested 8.2. I changed the water & retested the tank after about 2 hours. It tested 7.4. Many hours later, I again tested the water - still 7.4. I use an airstone overnight. This morning the water tested at 8.0. Is it the airstone? Is it possibly the layer of sand I have under the gravel substrate? This is the only tank that has this issue & my new Betta doesn't seem so happy. I use raw almond leaves, wonder shells, and have put a piece of driftwood in. Don't know how to best correct this problem. It took a while to get a good ph by cutting & my aged/cut water is used for all 4 of my tanks. Obviously the ph will be lowered each time I change the water. This would be great if it would stop going up overnight
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Post by Carl on Nov 14, 2013 19:44:31 GMT -5
Missdiane; I doubt it is the sand unless it is some sort of oolitic coral sand. Silica sands will not affect pH. The airstone may be the key, only because it will drive off CO2, and CO2 in the water column will lower pH (reacting to form carbonic acid) A couple of thoughts, if your pump has a rheostat, turn down the pump, otherwise purchase an air line control valve to lower the amount of air going through the air stone Product Reference: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Resunairpumps.html#airline_valvesThe other thought is to increase the amount of acid producing media in your aquarium. Driftwood and raw almond leaves do not add acids very quickly, certainly not quickly enough to make up for the CO2 being driven into the air. You might try powdering the almond leaves for quicker acid production or use Pillow Moss in small quantities (increasing slowly until you find a sweet spot). Pillow Moss adds acids more quickly Product Reference: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/FrogMoss.htmlCarl |
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Post by missdiane on Nov 15, 2013 15:55:31 GMT -5
thanks Carl! I did not use the airstone overnight & the PH remained at 7.4. Is it ok not to use the airstone? I've been running them overnight in all tanks because of the live plants using up oxygen. This is a small Betta tank with only java moss and java ferns growing. The tank is filtered. The PH remains stable in my larger tanks even using the airstone. By the way - this is the home of my new juvenile Betta who moved into the tank when "Chance" died.
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Post by Carl on Nov 15, 2013 17:23:11 GMT -5
Is there any water movement from the filter? If so, likely this added air stone is not needed. BTW, glad this was such a simple problem  Regards; Carl |
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Post by missdiane on Nov 16, 2013 1:14:28 GMT -5
there is a little movement - not much because the Bettas tend to enjoy still water - should I drop the water level down some & get more current that way? Or just turn the air on for a couple of hours then turn it off? I'm wondering if the unstable PH contributed to my Betta (Chance) dying. Sure don't want to lose another!
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Post by Carl on Nov 16, 2013 11:13:17 GMT -5
What is the filter that is running?
As for the air stone my earlier suggestion still stands:
Simply adjust the air stone down to where it has little affect on pH
While it is possible that the swings in the pH contributed to issues with Chance, in my opinion/experience genetics/age was the main contributing factor
Carl
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Post by missdiane on Nov 16, 2013 13:50:29 GMT -5
it's a tiny whisper filter for 1-3 gallon tank. I adjusted the air flow as low as possible & only had the airstone on for 3 hours last night before bed - the PH was up to almost 8 again this morning
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Post by Carl on Nov 16, 2013 15:06:47 GMT -5
This Whisper Filter should be enough just fr one fish in this small tank, if you cannot turn down the air bubbles any further. The other suggestion is to utilize a "faster" pH acid buffer such as Pillow Moss Reference: www.americanaquariumproducts.com/FrogMoss.htmlCarl |
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Post by missdiane on Nov 16, 2013 15:13:44 GMT -5
thanks - will test it out again tonight - will check ph at bedtime, turn on lowest bubbles w/stone, leave it overnight & re-check in the morning to see if it goes over 8.0. My only question Carl, yesterday the ph was stable at 7.4. it rose to almost 8 overnight. should i change the water today to lower the ph again or leave it alone?  ?? |
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Post by Carl on Nov 16, 2013 15:41:09 GMT -5
thanks - will test it out again tonight - will check ph at bedtime, turn on lowest bubbles w/stone, leave it overnight & re-check in the morning to see if it goes over 8.0. My only question Carl, yesterday the ph was stable at 7.4. it rose to almost 8 overnight. should i change the water today to lower the ph again or leave it alone? ?? I would leave it alone for now, but check near bed time to see if it has dropped back, if not maybe a small water change,, but even then this would not be too important. Carl |
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Post by missdiane on Nov 16, 2013 15:50:26 GMT -5
thanks much for all - feel better soon - take care of that respiratory system!
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Post by missdiane on Nov 18, 2013 15:53:52 GMT -5
with the airstone at it's lowest with any bubbles remaining - the Ph went up to 8.0. Interesting that I also used an airstone for the first time in a 1.5 gallon where another Betta lives. The PH has been stable at 7.4 in that tank. It also rose to 8 after using the airstone. So, I'm thinking it's healthier to go without the airstone than to have this high of a ph swing. Is this correct?
I use Flourish Excel in the tank 3 x per week & Flourish ferts 1 x per week. Should i stop using the Excel?
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Post by Carl on Nov 18, 2013 19:35:08 GMT -5
So, I'm thinking it's healthier to go without the airstone than to have this high of a ph swing. Is this correct? Yes No, if anything, consider a more strong acid buffer such as the before mentioned Pillow Moss Carl |
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Nov 19, 2013 14:29:40 GMT -5
with the airstone at it's lowest with any bubbles remaining - the Ph went up to 8.0. Interesting that I also used an airstone for the first time in a 1.5 gallon where another Betta lives. The PH has been stable at 7.4 in that tank. It also rose to 8 after using the airstone. So, I'm thinking it's healthier to go without the airstone than to have this high of a ph swing. Is this correct? I use Flourish Excel in the tank 3 x per week & Flourish ferts 1 x per week. Should i stop using the Excel? Good job on figuring this out. I think removing the add stone is best to. I rather not have the pH swing either. |
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