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Hi there!
Just wondering.. how do you go about increasing the PH level in the tank? Mines at around 5-6 but its in the middle of cycling, so I didn't know if its normal for that to lower as well..
Thanks!

Hi,
I figured that by now someone else would have replied to
your question. Before I stick my foot in my mouth,
I'd like to know more about what is in the tank.
Do you have any drift wood? What is the gravel in the
tank? Is it regular aquarium gravel from the LFS?

What are you using to test the water?
Have you taken a water sample to your LFS and asked
them to test it?
What readings does the LFS get on your water?
And, a personal question, Are you by any chance
color blind? For many, trying to distinguish the
shades of various colors is very hard because of
color blindness, and alternative tests need to be done.

Take a clean glass, fill it with water from your tap
and then test its pH. Then, wait 24 hours, and test it
again. What were the two readings?

I assume this is the same tank that you have asked other
questions about and is in the middle of cycling.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Yes its the same tank..its gravel from the local fish store..I"m not color blind as far as I know of either because I've been tested before! (I wear glasses)..I dunno, I was just checking all my readings, and the ammonia was high, nitrites were very slowly rising, and nitrates are like between 5-10, which seems normal according to what I've learned from the cycling process..however, I didn't really hear any discussions regarding PH and how its affected during cycling, and was wondering if its "normal" for it to be off during the cycling process..because its between 5-6 right now, and I just recently checked over the past few days, and it has the same readings..I was wondering if there was any way I cna increase it up to 6.5-8.5 (the normal range)..this is my first problem with PH, it has been normal during the first few weeks..only now its decreasing..any suggestions?

I'm not an expert but my opinion would be not to worry or do anything about the pH until the tank is fully cycled...take care of one thing at a time

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Hi,
Check your water doing the "glass test" and see if it
starts out at one pH and drops to another as it outgasses.

Also, take a clean sample to your LFS and ask them to test
it as well. See if their readings match or are close to
yours.

Do this, and let the tank settle down (cycle) before doing
anything else to it. There are various things you can
do, but first, lets be sure that there actually is a
problem.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Okay..thats good to know that I shouldn't be too worried about the ph level right now as there are other more important readings that I've been monitoring as well! Well so far so good on the cycling.

What are your latest test results?

PH 5.0
Nitrite: 0-0.25
Nitrate: 0-5
Ammonia: around 3

I'm still wondering when the nitrites will rise.. its been 2 weeks nearly sincen I've quit water changing and is still looking like no progress is being made

It can take quite a while for nitrItes to show up, and for NitrAtes as well for that matter.

The bioload will effect how quickly the nitrItes rise, also since you had been doing the water changes that did make it last a bit longer, I know you're holding back now which is good. If I can remember back to the last time I had a new tank to cycle I seem to remember it taking a good long time with a goldfish to get a showing of NitrItes. Of course I also remember doing a little dance and having my sister come downstairs and see me doing it .

I may have missed this somewhere but what test are you using? Paper dip strips are notoriously innacurate. One of the best ones is the aquarium pharmeceuticals master test kit. Yes it's a bit on the pricy side but overall it's more cost effective.

^_^

I use the liquid tests..not the master kit but the individual kits so I think they work just as well.. I got them from the Local fish store..so anyhow, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for the day that the nitrite levels go up!!! At least then, it will start to show progress..

People also tend to forget that when cycling a tank, most people don't do water changes but just top up the evaporated water. As such, over the 6-8 weeks it takes to cycle the water pH will decrease (decorations also influence this eg, bogwood) as the minerals in the water get absorbed by plant life/bacteria (fish if you use them when cycling).

Personally, I wouldn't worry and just monitor your Ammonia, Nitrite and Nirtate levels. Once it's cycled, and you've done a water change the pH will rise. Certainly does with my tapwater!

What's the parameters of your tapwater?

I haven't checked my ph level in the tapwater yet..but I know when I empty the test tube, the water goes to like a bluish which tells me that its average..but I guess that does make sense, not to worry about the ph levels and wait for the tank to cycle, and then do a 50% water change is that what it is?
Thanks