dbrown918

I'm setting up a FW planted 20G tank and I just tested the water for the first time today. I have been adding fish food and some gravel from a cycled ten gallon to jumpstart it. The readings were ammonia between 1.0 and 2.0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, and nitrate 20ppm. The hardness is 120ppm, pH 6.0-6.4, and buffering capacity is 0ppm (sucks i know, my tap water has no buffering capabilities). Just wondering if those numbers indicate that the cycle is nearing an end and also what could I add to increase buffering capacity?

Shawnie

no the cycle is still going strong...but you arent at the end yet...you still have to go thru the ammonia phase and have a nitrite reading (although some dont see the nitrites with a seeded method) ...keep feeding it daily...can you cut off a piece of the 10 gal filter media? that might help also....I wouldnt worry about buffering anything as most of those readings change as the tank cycles..once its done, you can go from there with the hardness and ph...

dbrown918

I have a completely cycled 10 gallon that's been running since December and the buffering capacity is still 0 in that tank too. Tested my tap water and here are the readings from that: nitrate-20ppm nitrite-0ppm total hardness-50ppm buffering capacity-0ppm pH-below 6.0

Shawnie

im not sure why you are worried about the "buffering " capacity..is there a reason for you being so worried about it? in the many years ive been keeping fish, I dont think ive ever checked or even know how to check that ....id worry more about the ammonia and nitrites but again, thats just me...

Moe Jacob

I agree with Shawnie ... after worring about buffering and PH, then reading and asking questions, I have come to the realization that it is more important to provide a stable environment as opposed to one that is going to be constantly adjusted.

Just my 10 cents ...

BTW Shawnie, I lived in Nashua NH for years when I was a kid ... just noticed that you are from Raymond...

dbrown918

The only reason i'm worried about it is because I just moved to this area recently and i've been keeping aquariums for years and never had tap water that was a problem. KH will allow me to have a more stable pH, therefore I worry about it. Also, my tap water pH is below 6.0 so without kH, everytime I do a water change I get a pretty significant fluctuation. I guess maybe I should stop worrying, but the reason is i'm used to more alkaline water sources in the 7-8 pH range with a pretty good buffering capability and i've never had or seen such soft water as the tap water here. I guess what i'm trying to say is...i'm just worried sick about my fish! lol

It's just hard to maintain a stable pH with my source of water. Will tetras/cory's be fine in a pH of 6 or less? If so, then i'll stop worrying. Thanks, sorry if i'm overzealous, but i've lost 3 fish in the past 2 weeks and i've been doing water changes frequently and the water parameters are fine. I just had a feeling it was the pH instability...

Shawnie

hmmm great explanation ...again, i dont know about GH and kh and such....have you tried adding some crused coral or peat moss to the tank? that will raise the ph naturally and then with enough, maybe the water changes wont effect the ph as much? again, wasnt questioning your theories , I sincerely never worried about it and never tested before...its nice to know the care you give your fish tho