JaneAustenAddict

I lost one of my molly fish during the night and so I got down to business this morning testing my water.

I tested the ammonia twice and both times it was 0, so I know he did not pass away due to an ammonia spike.

The nitrite level is 0.25. It is not ideal, but I am not sure if it was high enough to cause his death.

nitrate is at 10ppm. It is not significantly high and so I assume this did not cause his death either.

I figured out the problem and I am completely floored. The pH is at either 6.0 or less! The card with the colors on it only goes down to 6.0. I don't understand how this could have happened. I tested it 2 days ago and it was at 7.6.

Does anyone have a suggestion to raise the pH? I was planning to do a water change today, but now I am just so confused I don't know what to do!

mathas

Rapid pH swings like that typically only occur when the water has a low KH (or carbonate hardness or akalinity). Technically speaking, KH is a measure of bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO3--) ions in the water; practically speaking, it's the water's buffering capacity against pH swings. API does make a test kit for this if you want to verify.

Adding crushed coral, either in a sack or mixed into the substrate, should raise both KH and pH over time. I'll let someone who has actually had to do this give you advice on any specific methods, as I have the exact opposite problem... my water is almost as hard as concrete!

bolivianbaby

I've added crushed coral to all of my tanks because the true PH of my tapwater is 6.0. You can buy the crushed coral at Petsmart. Rinse it very well. I have to rinse mine a handful at a time and keep rinsing and rinsing. Otherwise it clouds up the tank. The cloudiness goes away after a few days, but it's still annoying. Add it a cup (measuring cup) at a time, give it a week, test your PH then. For a 29g, it probably won't take more than one or two cups.

JaneAustenAddict

Thanks for the advice. I haven't lost any other fish yet, so hopefully this will work.

ynaggo

Whats the true pH of your tap water?

Luckily for me my pH stabilizes at 7.0 without buffers or additives

aquarist48

Hello JAA. Sorry to hear you lost your Molly. Here is a link on pH you may find helpful.
Properly Maintaining the pH in a Freshwater Aquarium - Rate My Fish Tank
Ken

ynaggo

Credits go to
Rate My Fishtank - (http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/articles/107)

Nate McFin

IMO Ph is used way too much. Ph drops are merely a bi product of KH problems (as a few have said above) KH is not tested frequently enough in aquariums and is the true indicator of problems like this.