Crushed Coral to manage ph was a bad idea
#1 Guest_lozgod_*
Posted 20 January 2010 - 09:58 PM
Removed it and did a 20% water change. Will check again in 4-5 days and add peat to the filter if necassry.
#2 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 20 January 2010 - 11:10 PM
#3 Guest_Gene2308_*
Posted 21 January 2010 - 06:56 AM
Many fish will tolerate a pH outside of their normal range provided it is fairly stable...the large fluctuation is stressful.
Had you tested for nitrate prior to the crash?
#4 Guest_ashtonmj_*
Posted 21 January 2010 - 08:26 AM
#5 Guest_worldf_*
Posted 21 January 2010 - 09:15 AM
#6 Guest_gerald_*
Posted 21 January 2010 - 01:37 PM
#7 Guest_mudminnow_*
Posted 21 January 2010 - 05:02 PM
#8 Guest_lozgod_*
Posted 21 January 2010 - 09:24 PM
The ph crash was unexplained. At the time i had fluctuating ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings going on. I researched it and found it a somewhat common occurance with soil based substrate which is what I had at the time.
My concern for the ph isn't so much about the fish. Their behavior made me check all of my levels on everything but it is primarily for the health of the plants.
Edited by lozgod, 21 January 2010 - 09:26 PM.
#9 Guest_nativeplanter_*
Posted 22 January 2010 - 01:18 PM
If the soil that you used had a lot of organic material in it, the pH would lower as it broke down and released CO2. This would be especially true at night if you also had a high plant load, since the plants would also be releasing CO2. Good circulation/aeration is a good way of dealing with this if you have that problem again.
#10 Guest_Gene2308_*
Posted 25 January 2010 - 01:14 PM
Good circulation/aeration is a good way of dealing with this if you have that problem again.
Yep
I've never used crushed coral or aragonite simply because it's expensive, or has larger diameter than I like and tends to trap a lot of crap. My pH and hardness is probably high enough that none of these substrates would dissolve at a high enough rate to make any difference. I use silica-based sand for $3 a bag from Lowe's or Home Depot.
A pH crash from nitrogen cycling issues should be dealt with using means other than provided by using crushed coral.
Edited by Gene2308, 25 January 2010 - 01:15 PM.
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