Ph Help!

[doodes26]

Hello all, this is my first post to the forums.

I have a 20 gal freshwater tank that is probably just over a year old now. I currently have 4 zebra danios, 3 harlequin tetras, 2 'balloon' tetras and 1 algae eater. I have white gravel, a small ceramic decorative bridge, river rocks and a live barclaya plant.

I live in NYC and the tap water here is neutral 7.0 but the water in the tank always reads 6.0. I use Stress Coat as a water conditioner. Just yesterday I did a 50% water change and already today the Ph is reading 6.0.

Can any advise me on why the Ph in the tank keeps dropping so harshly? I kept an aquarium for years when I was younger and never encountered this problem.

Many thanks!

[Red]

Sometimes the water just does that, and there is nothing run with it, your fish are use to it.

[Lab_Rat]

Do you have real driftwood in the tank? That will lower the pH. But if your fish are acclimated to it then leave it alone, no need to try adjusting it with chemicals.

[doodes26]

I do not have real driftwood in the tank.

I'm most concerned about getting new fish. The local pet stores I go to say that they keep their tanks close to 7.0 and that fish may be in shock when placed into my tank. They encouraged me to neutralize the Ph level prior to bringing any new fish in. I've used the tablets before and they have worked, but then a few weeks later the Ph drops again.

I've been battling this for months now....

[Lab_Rat]

Just slowly acclimate the fish via drip acclimation over several hours. It's much better for the fish to live in a tank with a stable pH than one that is swinging from 6-7 every couple of weeks. Another option would be to add crushed coral to your filter, this will slowly increase both hardness and alkalinity.