fixing ph.?

**genocidex** · 02-26-2011, 08:03 PM

ok so this morning i was so excited. i read 0 nitrites (well extremely close) less than 1ppm ammonia (i just added it 10 hrs before to get just above 2.0 ppm so i wasnt surprised it wasnt 0 but i believed it would be in 14 hrs.) the past days the ammonia has hit zero by the nightly testing. and my nitrates are at 40ppm. since my ammonia and nitrites were zeroing out i figured i was at the end of the cycling. so i was preparing for fish. my ph was 6.4 and i need 7.0 so i used api 7.0 buffer max. 2 doses later and i have a good 7.0 reading. but now my nitrites are back up to 5.0+. is the buffer skewing the results or did i screw up and need to restart my tank?

**gm72** · 02-26-2011, 08:07 PM

No no no and no. You don't NEED any particular pH level. The chemicals that you use to obtain a neutral pH mess with other parameters. Please understand that fish are widely adaptable. There are few fish that cannot adapt to a wider range of parameters. My advise? Leave the pH alone.

**Fisharefriends27** · 02-26-2011, 08:09 PM

Don't use chemicals stable is better

**gm72** · 02-26-2011, 08:10 PM

Right. Stability, not the actual number, is the most critical aspect of the parameter.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-26-2011, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by gm72

No no no and no. You don't NEED any particular pH level. The chemicals that you use to obtain a neutral pH mess with other parameters. Please understand that fish are widely adaptable. There are few fish that cannot adapt to a wider range of parameters. My advise? Leave the pH alone.

Originally Posted by gm720

Right. Stability, not the actual number, is the most critical aspect of the parameter.

+ ∞ To both

**fishmasterflash** · 02-26-2011, 09:51 PM

yup stability is key in the world of fishh

**genocidex** · 02-26-2011, 09:53 PM

so i get what every one is saying but all my research said the fish im stock need a stable and nuetral ph. ie 7 and stable (thats what i was doing with a buffer now a ph up or down) i understand what everyone is saying. but no one seems to have read everything i wrote and just commented on me ajusting the ph not my real issue.

should i do a water change to get rid of the chemicaly ajusted ph or will the nitrites just level themselves out? again before the treatment i had almost a perfect 0 nitrites and now im seeing max (just did another and its down slightly)

**Fisharefriends27** · 02-26-2011, 09:55 PM

They don't need it. Most fish adjust.

What fish is it?

**Goes to 11!** · 02-26-2011, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by genocidex

so i get what every one is saying but all my research said the fish im stock need a stable and nuetral ph. ie 7 and stable (thats what i was doing with a buffer now a ph up or down) i understand what everyone is saying. but no one seems to have read everything i wrote and just commented on me ajusting the ph not my real issue.

"fixing ph.?"

So.. the real issue something other than the title of the thread? Can't really blame the responders for that IMO.

With that out of the way, 6.4 is not SOOO outrageously acid that a fish that prefers 7 can't adapt [& with a stable ph from there on out you should be ok.]

should i do a water change to get rid of the chemicaly ajusted ph or will the nitrites just level themselves out? again before the treatment i had almost a perfect 0 nitrites and now im seeing max (just did another and its down slightly)

It's a rock and a hard place.

NitrItes are BAD, Bouncing the stock all around the ph scale.. Also BAD.

Do a large Wc and keep an eye on your parameters. Repeat as required.

**Lab_Rat** · 02-26-2011, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by genocidex

so i get what every one is saying but all my research said the fish im stock need a stable and nuetral ph. ie 7 and stable (thats what i was doing with a buffer now a ph up or down) i understand what everyone is saying. but no one seems to have read everything i wrote and just commented on me ajusting the ph not my real issue.

Are you planning on keeping wild caught sensitive fish? What are these fish that MUST have a pH of 7?