Can’t for the life of me figure out what’s wrong with this tank!

Hello all,

I have a 10 gallon shrimp Tank that has been running for a few weeks.
I cycled it with media from my 75 gallon tank.
I have extremely soft water here so I have to run crushed coral in my filters.
So once I stabilized the pH I added 7 cherry shrimp along with 1 Ammano shrimp that I already had.
Anyways two days ago the pH crashed and is registering as 6 on the API test kit.
So It could be lower easily. I added a bunch more crushed coral, but even with more coral added than my 29 gallon needs to keep neutral the 10 gallon is still ultra acidic and soft. I vacuumed The gravel a few times and did 100% water changes 3 times in 2 days and super fast teh pH drops from 7.2 (tap water pH) back down to 6! The tank is clean and even before these issues the ammonia was 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm and nitrates 5ppm. So I cannot figure out what is causing this. The substrate is top fin black quarrymen gravel, I have live plants.
Anyways 5 of my shrimp died during Molting I think due to the unideal water parameters.
I am currently drip acclimating the remaining shrimp to my 75 gallon and m putting them in a large breeder box since the tank has rams.

 

Hello all,

I have a 10 gallon shrimp Tank that has been running for a few weeks.
I cycled it with media from my 75 gallon tank.
I have extremely soft water here so I have to run crushed coral in my filters.
So once I stabilized the pH I added 7 cherry shrimp along with 1 Ammano shrimp that I already had.
Anyways two days ago the pH crashed and is registering as 6 on the API test kit.
So It could be lower easily. I added a bunch more crushed coral, but even with more coral added than my 29 gallon needs to keep neutral the 10 gallon is still ultra acidic and soft. I vacuumed The gravel a few times and did 100% water changes 3 times in 2 days and super fast teh pH drops from 7.2 (tap water pH) back down to 6! The tank is clean and even before these issues the ammonia was 0ppm Nitrites 0ppm and nitrates 5ppm. So I cannot figure out what is causing this. The substrate is top fin black quarrymen gravel, I have live plants.
Anyways 5 of my shrimp died during Molting I think due to the unideal water parameters.
I am currently drip acclimating the remaining shrimp to my 75 gallon and m putting them in a large breeder box since the tank has rams.

 

Crushed coral is a slow release of GH and KH(ie, ph buffers), is it possible you have bubbles in the gravel or soil, or drift wood that could cause a release of acidity in the water? It is also possible you don't have adequete flow to move acidic water through the coral, which means the coral isn't being used.

 

I am new at this and the same thing has happened to me, except I don't have shrimp or need to add corals. I don't know if this was a good solution or not but as an emergency fix I did a 25% w/c and then added Poland Spring water, which is 7.4-7.6 ph. I hope someone has a better answer!

 

Crushed coral is a slow release of GH and KH(ie, ph buffers), is it possible you have bubbles in the gravel or soil, or drift wood that could cause a release of acidity in the water? It is also possible you don't have adequete flow to move acidic water through the coral, which means the coral isn't being used.

Hi there, thank for the reply! I have no soil or driftwood in the tank.
No bubbles in the gravel because I stirred it around two remove the air pockets when I set up the tank.
The tank has a sponge filter with a 10 gallon rated air pump.
I use crushed coral in all my other small tanks by putting coral into the sponge filter, and it works in all my other tanks so I don’t know why it wouldn’t in this 10 gallon. I’m perplexed!

I am new at this and the same thing has happened to me, except I don't have shrimp or need to add corals. I don't know if this was a good solution or not but as an emergency fix I did a 25% w/c and then added Poland Spring water, which is 7.4-7.6 ph. I hope someone has a better answer!

Thanks for the reply. I did do a water change with higher pH water but it crashed again almost immediately. Your advice is pretty much what I’d suggest to someone in this situation, so something really isn’t quite making sense here

 

Hello all,

.... I have extremely soft water here so I have to run crushed coral in my filters.

... Anyways two days ago the pH crashed and is registering as 6 on the API test kit.

I have soft water too. My well output is 5.6 pH, KH=1, GH=3

In order to make my water compatible with the fish tanks, and to reduce plumbing corrosion, I buffer the water with soda ash. This results in KH=8,ph = 7.0 out of the tap, Once aerated fo 24 hours, the water has pH = 7.8 and that is where the water is now stable at.

You do not have enough buffers in your water. That makes the pH unstable and sinks lower. Once the buffers are used up the pH will crash. You need enough buffer in the water to keep it stable.

Look for soda ash in farm supply stores. You could also use baking soda too.

Filtering over crushed coral is very slow and only good for long time stability. It can't dissolve fast enough to make a change in your soft water. You need something that dissolves immediately to make your water fish ready.

For my hard water fish I use both the soda ash AND filter over crushed coral for long time stability.

For hardwater fish I also add mineral salts to get the GH up too. Adding soda ash won't raise your GH.

 

I have soft water too. My well output is 5.6 pH, KH=1, GH=3

In order to make my water compatible with the fish tanks, and to reduce plumbing corrosion, I buffer the water with soda ash. This results in KH=8,ph = 7.0 out of the tap, Once aerated fo 24 hours, the water has pH = 7.8 and that is where the water is now stable at.

You do not have enough buffers in your water. That makes the pH unstable and sinks lower. Once the buffers are used up the pH will crash. You need enough buffer in the water to keep it stable.

Look for soda ash in farm supply stores. You could also use baking soda too.

Filtering over crushed coral is very slow and only good for long time stability. It can't dissolve fast enough to make a change in your soft water. You need something that dissolves immediately to make your water fish ready.

For my hard water fish I use both the soda ash AND filter over crushed coral for long time stability.

For hardwater fish I also add mineral salts to get the GH up too. Adding soda ash won't raise your GH.

Ill maybe give the soda ash a try. However I do use crushed coral in all my other tanks, and it brings the pH up to about 7.2-7.5 in 24 hours and I have no problems keeping it there. I have a good understanding of buffers and how they work. This is why I’m so confused as to why this is the only tank I can’t manage. My tap water is 0-1 degrees kH and 1 degree
gH. I do use a gH up in my small live bearers tank.

 

Ill maybe give the soda ash a try. However I do use crushed coral in all my other tanks, and it brings the pH up to about 7.2-7.5 in 24 hours and I have no problems keeping it there. I have a good understanding of buffers and how they work. This is why I’m so confused as to why this is the only tank I can’t manage. My tap water is 0-1 degrees kH and 1 degree
gH. I do use a gH up in my small live bearers tank.

I wonder if it is the crushed coral actually bringing the pH up in those tanks? The aeration will also raise the pH and it takes 24 hours.

Try this experiment. Take your tap water, don't add any buffers. Let it sit overnight. I bet the pH will be up at 7.5.

But the water is still unbuffered so will crash if something in the tank is using the buffers up. Perhaps the shrimp are using up the buffer? They are hard-water creatures. Therefore they will need buffered water to thrive.

 

I wonder if it is the crushed coral actually bringing the pH up in those tanks? The aeration will also raise the pH and it takes 24 hours.

Try this experiment. Take your tap water, don't add any buffers. Let it sit overnight. I bet the pH will be up at 7.5.

But the water is still unbuffered so will crash if something in the tank is using the buffers up. Perhaps the shrimp are using up the buffer? They are hard-water creatures. Therefore they will need buffered water to thrive.

Thanks for the help! I have tried this experiment multiple times and the tap water does drop to 6, possibly lower over night. I’m sure the shrimp are using up some buffer but there’s only 4 little shrimp in the 10 gallon and load of crushed coral. Also the pH was stable the first week so I don’t know what changed. I water test regularly so I know that there was
no water quality issue nitrogen wise causing this. The only other things in the tank are a Pleco cave, a plastic plant and java fern. I may just tear down the tank clean everything and try again.

 

Thanks for the help! I have tried this experiment multiple times and the tap water does drop to 6, possibly lower over night. I’m sure the shrimp are using up some buffer but there’s only 4 little shrimp in the 10 gallon and load of crushed coral. Also the pH was stable the first week so I don’t know what changed. I water test regularly so I know that there was
no water quality issue nitrogen wise causing this. The only other things in the tank are a Pleco cave, a plastic plant and java fern. I may just tear down the tank clean everything and try again.

You should test the KH of the aquarium water. If it is still below 3, your pH will be unstable, and any little thing can send the pH to crash. If the corals really are buffering the water then that would show up on the KH test as a rise.

 

You should test the KH of the aquarium water. If it is still below 3, your pH will be unstable, and any little thing can send the pH to crash. If the corals really are buffering the water then that would show up on the KH test as a rise.

Thank you. The kH in the tanks with the coral is 4 degrees The kH only wouldnt rise in teh 10 gallon, I may buy a different filter to try to ensure good flow over the coral. I’m so confused
it must have to do with water flow

Could I use seachem alkaline buffer or baking soda to raise kH a little more

 

Could I use seachem alkaline buffer or baking soda to raise kH a little more

You can but that buffer fluctuates params wildly. It’s tricky and I couldn’t get it stable But I’m not super experienced. It sounds like for some reason the coral just isn’t dissolving fast enough for this specific tank. I recommend trying a hob filter stuffed with coral and recheck the kh periodically with that. Crushed coral isn’t a quick fix like baking soda though but it is more stable than seachems products or baking soda

 

You can but that buffer fluctuates params wildly. It’s tricky and I couldn’t get it stable But I’m not super experienced. It sounds like for some reason the coral just isn’t dissolving fast enough for this specific tank. I recommend trying a hob filter stuffed with coral and recheck the kh periodically with that. Crushed coral isn’t a quick fix like baking soda though but it is more stable than seachems products or baking soda

Thank you. I also have a 20 long and the kH in there is only 2 degrees. Do I need to worry about the pH in that tank crashing suddenly? Also for the tank I’m having problems with I think I will try out a differnt filter.

 

Maybe you can get a few more live plants for the tank? If you don't have soil or driftwood, CO2 in the water can be one reason why your tank has a low PH, and plants naturally absorb it to photosynthesize.
Also, here is some info I read that I thought may help you as well that I got from online (source at the bottom):
"One of the easiest ways to raise the pH in your tank is to add baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Adding 1ml of baking soda per 10 liters of tank water can raise the pH as high as 8.2, so add the baking soda slowly and monitor the pH as you go so you can stop when it reaches the appropriate level. Another way to increase the pH in your tank is to add equal parts baking soda, Epsom salt and marine salt to the tank at a rate of 1ml per 10 liters of tank water. This mixture will not only raise the pH of your tank but it may also increase the water hardness, so exercise caution when utilizing this method to avoid hardening the water in your tank too much. Though this method is not recommended as a means of temporarily raising pH, the addition of calcitic gravel to your tank can also increase the pH. Not only does calcitic gravel increase aquarium pH, but it also increases the buffering capacity of the water so it is unlikely to drop below 7.5. If the fish in your tank require a neutral or slightly acidic pH, do not use this method to correct a drop in pH because it could raise the pH level too high." (What Are the Main Causes of Low PH in an Aquarium? Pt. 1 , What Are the Main Causes of Low PH in an Aquarium? Pt. 2)
I hope this helps and that you find a solution to your tank problem soon!

 

Maybe you can get a few more live plants for the tank? If you don't have soil or driftwood, CO2 in the water can be one reason why your tank has a low PH, and plants naturally absorb it to photosynthesize.
Also, here is some info I read that I thought may help you as well that I got from online (source at the bottom):
"One of the easiest ways to raise the pH in your tank is to add baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Adding 1ml of baking soda per 10 liters of tank water can raise the pH as high as 8.2, so add the baking soda slowly and monitor the pH as you go so you can stop when it reaches the appropriate level. Another way to increase the pH in your tank is to add equal parts baking soda, Epsom salt and marine salt to the tank at a rate of 1ml per 10 liters of tank water. This mixture will not only raise the pH of your tank but it may also increase the water hardness, so exercise caution when utilizing this method to avoid hardening the water in your tank too much. Though this method is not recommended as a means of temporarily raising pH, the addition of calcitic gravel to your tank can also increase the pH. Not only does calcitic gravel increase aquarium pH, but it also increases the buffering capacity of the water so it is unlikely to drop below 7.5. If the fish in your tank require a neutral or slightly acidic pH, do not use this method to correct a drop in pH because it could raise the pH level too high." (What Are the Main Causes of Low PH in an Aquarium? Pt. 1 , What Are the Main Causes of Low PH in an Aquarium? Pt. 2)
I hope this helps and that you find a solution to your tank problem soon!

I think for now I’ll leave things be and monitor as well as try out a new filter in the shrimp tank.
Thank for the help

 

kH in there is only 2 degrees

Any low KH is a risk for a sudden ph change. My tank, for example, has a kh of 0 straight out of tap and maintains a ph of 6.5-6.8 for a year now, but I test periodically with strips to check. The tank contains fish that do well in acidic waters (corys, gourami) but also has one random guppy who I would prefer to keep in the 6.8 area. I believe my tank hasn’t fluctuated because I have always used real plants with weekly 50% or more water changes and had a full bioload (never low like yours, never high). Since I keep everything the same with no changes, I have been lucky with no ph fluctuations. But I know there’s a risk.

If I was in your situation, I think best bet is to run hobs on every tank with crushed coral and buffer the flow. I use the water bottle method but whatever works best for you.

 

Thank you. The kH in the tanks with the coral is 4 degrees...

Could I use seachem alkaline buffer or baking soda to raise kH a little more

Yes absolutely. Get a bucket and mix in enough buffer to register a KH of 8. Then start doing water changes with that water to bring your KH up. Your pH will become stable.

You will need a long term, economical solution. You need to buffer your water and raise the pH of your supply for your tanks.

Amazon.com: 5 pounds Sodium Carbonate (SODA ASH DENSE, ph increasse) 99.95% purity: Industrial & Scientific

Thank you. I also have a 20 long and the kH in there is only 2 degrees. Do I need to worry about the pH in that tank crashing suddenly? Also for the tank I’m having problems with I think I will try out a different filter.

Yes. KH=2 is unstable. Use the same pre-buffered (KH=8) water in all your tanks unless you have some special creatures that need low KH (ex. discus). Try to get your tanks up to a higher (KH=8) level all around for stability.

You can keep filtering over crushed coral. But think of that more of adding back in a little buffer slowly as it gets used up. Your water is so low in buffer that you need to inject in directly.

 

Yes absolutely. Get a bucket and mix in enough buffer to register a KH of 8. Then start doing water changes with that water to bring your KH up. Your pH will become stable.

You will need a long term, economical solution. You need to buffer your water and raise the pH of your supply for your tanks.

Amazon.com: 5 pounds Sodium Carbonate (SODA ASH DENSE, ph increasse) 99.95% purity: Industrial & Scientific

Thanks I’ll look into the soda ash . The only thing is that my ph is neutral although the kH is low, so by adding the soda ash I’m worried the ph will end up being very high

 

Thanks I’ll look into the soda ash . The only thing is that my ph is neutral although the kH is low, so by adding the soda ash I’m worried the pH will end up being very high

It will be a bit higher (7.8?) , but should be in range that the creatures like just fine. The key is that pH will be stable due to the buffer support and won't crash - which kills fish.

You can add less soda ash and find a happy place. Maybe go for a KH of 5 and let the pH be where it goes naturally. Try to get your KH about 5 at least so the water is not unstable like you have it now.

 

It will be a bit higher (7.8?) , but should be in range that the creatures like just fine. The key is that pH will be stable due to the buffer support and won't crash - which kills fish.

You can add less soda ash and find a happy place. Maybe go for a KH of 5 and let the pH be where it goes naturally. Try to get your KH about 5 at least so the water is not unstable like you have it now.

Thanks for all the help today I bought some soda ash to keep on hand