6.0 pH. Do I need to do anything?

[jifr]

Uuugh. Good or bad? I don't know. Help?

My tank used to have a regular 7.0 pH. Good, right?

I don't think I've done anything drastic to make the pH change...... I'd been doing weekly water changes until one time I believe I changed TOO much water. (I was vacuuming trying to get all the gunk out of the bottom and changed a little over half) My tank started to cycle again and ever since then - the pH has never been 7.0 again.

For reference: I have a 75 gallon tank. 6 tiger barbs, 3 danios, 3 dwarf red gaurami, 2 ghost catfish, 2 frogs, 1 rope fish, 3 diamond tetras, 3 blackskirt tetras. 2 cory catfish (small ones), 1 Pleco, 2 tiny female crabs and 1 lone cardinal tetra (The tiger barbs picked off the rest of his school. I started out with 6). I have a magnum filter and a bubble wand.....regular gravel substrate with some miscellaneous glass rocks strewn about. I test the pH with the liquid dropper kit.

I've been going 2 weeks between water changes now because I'm afraid to start the tank cycling again. I hate that cloudiness.

Is the 6.0 ph anything to be concerned about? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

:-) ~jifr

[Lady Hobbs]

Check your water right from your tap and go with that number. Pour a glass out and let it set for a few days to see if it changes. If it is low from the tap then you may want to add a few coral stones to the tank to help get the pH up a bit or a touch of baking soda to the water or a pH adjuster product to keep it at 7.

[jifr]

Hi Hobbs:

I should have added that info earlier. I've tested the tap water. It comes out above 7.0. I think it was 7.4

[Lady Hobbs]

Generally people write about their pH going up so this is a new one on me. Have you used a Water Clarifier or any products like that that may be giving a false reading?