lilswimmer

Hi All! I've been preparing a 5 Gal. tank for about two months. The first month I let it cycle fishless and got my parameters to pH: 7.0, A:0, NI:0, NA: 5.0. Then I added live plants and pond snails only, because I've never done a planted tank and wanted to get that down before adding a fish. I did weekly 50% water changes, removed dead plant material and after a couple weeks noticed that the PH was going up. This is week four with the live plants and my readings are PH:7.6, A:0.25, NI:0, NA 5.0. I was just wondering if anyone has some ideas on what could be causing this? I have a carbon filter and biofilter.

pepetj

Have you checked the ph of your watersource? How's the GH and KH in both tank and watersource? I figure you're not using CO2 in a 5gal, if you are, CO2 levels would likely be the cause. I'll get back to this thread, hope you find the cause of rising ph and post it here.
Pepe
Santo Domingo

lilswimmer

That's right I'm not using CO2 since it's such a small tank. I'll check the PH of my water source (Tap water) and let you know. My cat just broke my test tubes so I have to get some more. What does GH and KH stand for? Thanks for the help!!!

lilswimmer

Is there a possiility that the snails could be causing the ph to go up? I really would appreciate any advice anyone has to offer!

lilswimmer

I finally got a replacement test tube and my tap PH is 8.0. My tank PH is holding steady at 7.4. I'm planning on getting a dwarf puffer and they perfer 7.0, but as long as it's consistient that PH should be ok, right? I've read that it's better to have a consistient PH than the ups and downs that come with adding chemicals to lower it.

The ammonia level is consistiently 0.25ppm. I know the perferred level is zero. Can the fish adjust to this like they can to PH? If not how can I lower it?

Shawnie

I think the snails bio-load are causeing the ammonia...what kind of snail? and NO fish cant live in any ammonia..even lil amounts are lethal...they can however adapt to different ranges of ph, so thats not an issue like the ammonia...goodluck!