pH is off the charts....

[jenpedi]

too LOW. Is there a chance that the pH will increase after the cycle is complete? When I started the cycle the pH was high (i think it is listed in my very old sig I have not changed).

Today my readings are:
Ammonia 2 (with ammonia added today, I have to add ammonia twice a day to keep the levels at 2-3 ppm)
Nitrites 3
Nitrates 5
pH 6.0 or less

And will the Nitrites drop fast or is it a slow process?

Thanks for putting up with all the questions!

[RainMan]

Don't bother with your pH until after your cycle is complete. It will bounce all over the place... mine dropped down to 7 and back up to almost 8 within a few days.

[Wild Turkey]

Don't bother with your pH until after your cycle is complete. It will bounce all over the place... mine dropped down to 7 and back up to almost 8 within a few days.

Yup, dont worry about ph until ur done. And still even then, 9/10 times its more beneficial to just leave the ph than to mess with it unless you really have to, like a breeder tank or specialty tank.

[jenpedi]

OK, I will not worry about it. I was just trying to figure out what kind of fish to go with and the pH jumping around is not helping LOL

From what I have read, as long as the pH is within reason and stable it should be OK because the fish probably were raised in a simular enviroment. So, pH is not a big factor for the fish I choose, right?

[Wild Turkey]

OK, I will not worry about it. I was just trying to figure out what kind of fish to go with and the pH jumping around is not helping LOL

From what I have read, as long as the pH is within reason and stable it should be OK because the fish probably were raised in a simular enviroment. So, pH is not a big factor for the fish I choose, right?

For the most part, you got it exactly right

[RainMan]

and unless you have something in your tank that will lower or raise your ph... you can get a guess-timate of what your ph will be from your tap water. Take a sample of tap water and add conditioner to it and let it sit overnight... test and see what your pH is. Tap water is, for the most part, stable when it comes to pH.

You can easily raise ph if needed... lowering ph is a little tricky.

[Wild Turkey]

and unless you have something in your tank that will lower or raise your ph... you can get a guess-timate of what your ph will be from your tap water. Take a sample of tap water and add conditioner to it and let it sit overnight... test and see what your pH is. Tap water is, for the most part, stable when it comes to pH.

You can easily raise ph if needed... lowering ph is a little tricky.

Putting an airstone in the cup overnight will help to ensure you get a good reading, but once u put plants and fish in, its most likely gonna change again. Yea rainman has it right, raising it not so bad, lowering it, a total PITA

[RainMan]

oops.... forgot the airstone. But, that should give you a close idea? But, the final results in your tank will vary, as turkey said, plants and fish will change the the water.