PH control during Nitrogen cycle

Hey folks!! First post so if I don't seem clear or leave out some info I apologize. Went to Petco a couple weeks ago and got a 5gal kit. Also bought purified drinking water. I Conditioned the water and threw a couple goldfish and a couple guppies. PH has always been off the scale. Ammonia .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrite 0 after a 1/4 tank change. I am able to lower it with Vinager but that only lasts a couple hours or less. Do the PH adjusters at a LPS work more effectively in keeping the PH down? Will the PH come down naturally as the Nitrogen cycle starts?

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

You don't want or need to control your pH with chemicals. Doing so leads to pH swings that will endanger the lives of your fish.

What do you mean when you say that your water is off the scale? How did you test it?

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that a 5 gal tank is waaaaay too small for even a single goldfish. 1 goldie needs 20 gallons or more, or you're going to end up with some seriously suffering fish.

 

PH is off the scale. I use the API Freshwater Mater Test Kit. All I've tried using is Vinegar to lower the PH.

 

Ok. I don't want to insult you or anything, but I don't know how much you know about testing your water, so forgive me for asking:

Do you know how to use BOTH pH tests in the API kit? One measures pH values much higher than the other. I have trouble believing that your local water authority is pumping water into your home that can't be measured with the high-range test.

 

Just did a high range and it reads in the 7.8-8.0 range.

 

Awesome! That's not bad at all. My tanks register aroung 8.2 to 8.3.

Trust me on this: you do not need to adjust your pH. Trying to adjust it will cause far more problems than it will solve.

The bigger issue here is that you've got goldfish in a 5 gallon tank. Please visit our articles on aquarium fish to get more info on tank size requirements. Generally, the recommendation is for 20 gallons for the first goldfish + 10 gallons for each additional goldfish. That's a minimum: some goldies get bigger and need more space.

 

I don't plan on keeping the goldfish. I figure they would help it cycle. Plus with my 4 yr old son there was no way I was gonna get out of the store with out sumthing.

 

Welcome to the forum.

I strongly encourage you to return both goldfish. They do not belong in such a small tank and will not survive. This may sound harsh, and I apologize if it does, but feel I need to state this. In your efforts to please your son, the first lesson you will be teaching him is about death and loss. Instead, I'd think teaching him right from wrong would be the more important lesson in caring for any pet.

Did you purchase testing supplies? Can you please post the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings?

May I ask why you are using bottled water instead of tap water? With a quality water conditioner most municipal supplies can be used with freshwater aquariums.

As for the pH level, ignore it! It does not matter where the pH is at as fish will adapt. Further, pH will bounce all over the place while a tank cycles. Pouring chemicals into a cycled tank is very iffy; but doing so in a toxic, uncycled tank can be enough to kill fish very quickly.

If you can find it you may want to consider purchasing Tetra SafeStart. It will help to cycle your tank with just the guppies in a couple of weeks. Otherwise, you will need to plan on daily water changes with a detoxing water conditioner, such as Seachem Prime or Kordon AmQuel+ with NovAqua+. Both these product lines will make tap water safe for the fish as well as detox nitrogen waste (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) between daily water changes.

Good luck.

 

Details are in my first post. Haha. It would cost more in gas than it would be worth returning a 25 cent feeder fish. Also I used bottled water because I didn't want to deal with chlorine and the hardness of our water. Thanks for the info on the cycling chemicals. I think I'm on the right track!!

 

Good morning and Welcome to Fish Lore!

I have moved your thread from General Discussion to Aquarium Water/pH section of the forum. This will help others doing research that may have the same issues.

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the forum.

Ken (Visitor Message Sent)

 

Ok... Don't need to worry about those pesky sick goldfish. The last one died last night. So for now it's just 2 Guppies until it cycles.

 

Welcome to FishLore!

I would highly recommend purchasing some Seachem Prime. It is a water conditioner, but in addition to chlorine/chloramine, it detoxifies ammonia and nitrites. While your tank is cycling, the levels of these will be unsafe for your fish, and the guppies will die as well if you do not protect them.

As for water hardness, harder water is actually better than softer water - it helps buffer against fluctuations in the pH, which you may experience while you are cycling your tank.

To emphasize what others have said, I would definitely not try and change the pH of your water. Mine is 8.0-8.2 and my fish are just fine. Constant fluctuations will be much more stressful in the long run, plus you'd need to add chemicals with every water change, which is definitely a pain.

Best of luck with cycling your tank! It may take awhile, but patience will pay off in the end.

 

If I were to get that would water changes still be required, or at least less often? Time to put my lab coat on for daily testing.

 

Good morning,

Yes, frequent water changes are necessary. I would suggest at the least 30 to 50% weekly if not more for a cycled tank.

Keep in mind, nothing beats fresh water for your fish!

If your tank is cycling with fish, then daily water changes with Prime will be necessary until the cycle has completed. This will prevent your fish from suffering from ammonia poisoning. Once you have added the Prime, wait 24 hours to test for more accurate results.

While your tank is cycling, your pH levels may be all over the place. As long as the pH remains above 7.0 I wouldn't worry about trying to alter it. If your pH falls below 7.0 then it could possibly delay the cycling process. At this point, I would try to increase the pH naturally without the use of chemicals.

Chemicals designed to alter pH levels are unstable and can lead to a pH crash resulting in fish loss. In the link below, you'll find information on how to alter pH levels naturally. However, until your tank is done cycling, again I wouldn't try to alter it at this point. I keep my tanks at 8.0 for all of my fish.


Ken

 

Well went today and picked up a bottle of Nutrafin Cycle and API stress coat.

 

Good morning,

Nutrafin Cycle may not contain the necessary bacteria needed to sustain a tanks cycle unless you add it for the life of the tank:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/opinions-on-cycle-the-product.72393/

The most widely recommended bacteria additive on Fish Lore is Tetra Safe Start (TSS). TSS is added 1 time only. If you decide to use TSS follow the directions in the link below to the letter:
Q & A With Tetra about Tetra SafeStart
Although it has worked for some members, it has not worked for everyone. Never tried either personally. I SEED any new tanks using Established Filter Media for an instant cycle.

Ken

 

Well I'm def cycling now. ph-7.6, ammonia- 1.5 (did 1/2 tank chg this morning), nitrite-0.10 (it was just starting to register), nitrate- 4.0. Also added a live moss ball, and a small breed cleaner fish (can't think of the name but I was told it might get to 1 1/2" long. Also I discovered I have a prego guppy. I have 1 male and one female. I went and got a guppy trap and their both in there now. The male won't leave her alone for nothing, it's kinda like watching a love story unveil. To bad their such bad parents. And yes I know I will need to find more room soon if I expect to keep any of the babies.