PH Problem

[mazorax]

For some reason I'm all of the sudden having a PH problem. My PH since I set the tank up (About 2 months) has been 6.8 every time I checked it. Yesterday I noticed my fish acting strangely so I got my API mast kit out and check everything, all was good except the PH was reading 6.0. I did a 50% water change and that brought it back to 6.6. I checked my tap and it's reading 7.6. Tonight after I got home I checked it again, it is back down to 6.0. I don't have any live plants so what else could be draining it?


Thanks,
Maz

[sailor]

What are you using for substrate and do you have any drift wood in your tank?
How old is your test kit. Maybe check the expiry date on it.

[mazorax]

Gravel and I don't have any drift wood. Where do I find the expiry date? It's not on the bottles. I bougt it about a month ago but that doesnt mean it hasnt been on there shelf for a while.

Edit-

Looks like the last four of the lot number are the date. Does this sound right? Mine says 0707 so it should be good?

[shockshockshad]

That means july 07. its expired.

[mazorax]

How long are they good for?

[shockshockshad]

Untill the expiration date.

[mazorax]

Ok, I thought the 0707 was the date it was produced but thanks for letting me know. I will go get another one and see what I find.

[NickFish]

I don't think the LOT number is the expiration date.
If thats true mine expired 3 years ago and I know for a fact that it was made at the factory only a few months ago. You can call them (number on box) or go to their website. If you give them your LOT number they can tell you when it will expire. I don't know why they just don't put it on the box, would save me a lot of calls.

[sailor]

I have 2 kits and the hagen kit clearly has the expiration date on the bottom of the box.

My other kit is the AP freshwater master kit. I just emailed the company from their website and inquired about the lot numbers on the bottles. I asked them if the last 4 numbers was the expiration or production date. And if it is the production date, how long is the kit good for from that date. I will post the reply in this thread when I recieve it.

[mazorax]

This was on another site where someone asked API that question so it will be good to see if it matches when you get a response.

"The last four digits are the month and year of
manufacture. Example: Lot # 28A0102. This is a pH reagent manufactured
in January of 2002. Pond Care Wide Range pH, Ammonia, High Range pH,
Nitrate, Phosphate, Copper, Calcium and GH all last for three years.
Nitrite and KH will last for four years. Freshwater pH(low range) and
Pond Care Salt Level will last for five years. I would not trust these
kits after they have expired."

[NickFish]

I ask a lot of product questions here- API help desk ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])
the answers come but they are slow.....
If you want faster reponses I believe the number is (800) 847-0659 for teh API technical support, but you get put on hold often.

[sailor]

That's where I launched my question from Nick

[mazorax]

Ok, I know the jury is still out on when the API test kits expire but here is an update. I got home today and my Rubber Lip Pleco was dead. I did some test on all the readings and they are below. There has got to be something that is draining my PH.

Nitrates - 0
Ammonia - .25
Nitrate - 0
High PH - No color to match it was very yellow so I assume very low
Ph - Testing out at 6.0 again

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Maz

[smaug]

does you water come from a well or is it city water,do you use a water softener?

[mazorax]

does you water come from a well or is it city water,do you use a water softener?

City, I use API Stress Coat and the PH from the Tap reads 7.6

[smaug]

City, I use API Stress Coat and the PH from the Tap reads 7.6
By water softener I mean a machine that softens water for the whole house.

[mazorax]

By water softener I mean a machine that softens water for the whole house.

Or sorry, no I don't have anything.

[smaug]

I heard it recomended by someone competent on this site to check the water out of your tap after it sets for a few hours,does anyone else know about this?Im at a loss to help you on this Maz.The only thing i can recomend for a quick help would be for you to get a buffer chem to even your ph out.If you do not have plants then this one is a good thing,just do it slowly over a period of a few days.here is a link.Good luck.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[mazorax]

The only thing I can think of is I got a rock from one of my friends that has a tank, he hadnt used the rock and I thought it would look good. Could this cause it? I think it came out of a river bed. I don't know if this would do it or not but I just remembered it.

[smaug]

The only thing I can think of is I got a rock from one of my friends that has a tank, he hadnt used the rock and I thought it would look good. Could this cause it? I think it came out of a river bed. I don't know if this would do it or not but I just remembered it.
I have never heard of a rock causing ph to drop,they can certainly raise it though.What does the rock look like?color,consistency?

[mazorax]

Kind of rough on the outer like a fine sand paper, cream colored and has several holes in it.

[smaug]

Sandstone?could be it has absorbed something over time that is being released.Could you live with out it?If this started happening after you put it in then you have nothing to lose by removing it.

[mazorax]

I took it out. I'm trying a test. I got two jugs and filled them with water and used API Stress Coat to treat them. I took a sample of both for the PH. I dropped the rock in one and am just letting the other sit. I will give it a couple of hours and see what the readings are then.

[smaug]

I took it out. I'm trying a test. I got two jugs and filled them with water and used API Stress Coat to treat them. I took a sample of both for the PH. I dropped the rock in one and am just letting the other sit. I will give it a couple of hours and see what the readings are then.
It will likely take at least 24 hrs to get a good read,but it certainly wont hurt to test sooner.

[mazorax]

A little update. I got home today after leaving the jugs out and tested them. The jug without the rock held the PH at 7.6 the jug with the rock dropped to 7.4 not a huge drop so I'm not sure if that is it or not. Would the effect be magnified in the 20 gallon tank?

Thanks,
Maz

[smaug]

A little update. I got home today after leaving the jugs out and tested them. The jug without the rock held the PH at 7.6 the jug with the rock dropped to 7.4 not a huge drop so I'm not sure if that is it or not. Would the effect be magnified in the 20 gallon tank?

Thanks,
Maz
I wouldnt think that it would be any different in the tank,Im baffled.How long was the rock in your tank?I suppose it could have lowered it slowly over time.

[mazorax]

Just a little update,

After I removed the rock my PH has been steady. I don't know what was in it but that was the culprit.

Thanks for all the help!