tank emergency !!!!!

S-B · #1 02-22-2005, 02:54 PM

this morning I find my regal tang breathing hard . So I start checking
all levels in my 40g tank . I find my PH is Way Low ........I mixed up some new water and tested it .......and the PH in it is Low too ?
So I tested another tank I have , and the PH is fine .

How do I get the PH up ? or should I just take from my 20g for now ?

Willow · #2 02-22-2005, 03:01 PM

easiest way to increase ph is to use ph buffer.

something like this.. http://www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/sh...ogno=k-mab0250

danny zubot · #3 02-22-2005, 03:02 PM

Did you mean that the new water you just mixed had low PH? Or the 40g was still low after adding new water? Either way, don't panic, the worst thing you can do is start changing lots of water, (well, not the worst thing.) but if you adjust the PH too rapidly it will stress the fish even further.

I would change out 10 or 15 gallons to begin to correct the PH and then find out why it is too low. What are your calcium and alkalinity levels at? Do you use buffers or additives at all?

Willow · #4 02-22-2005, 03:03 PM

btw i should add in the long term you can help your ph by dripping kalkawasser, this will add calcium and stablize your ph.

S-B · #5 02-22-2005, 03:21 PM

danny zubot
The 40g and the new water I just mixed up both have such a low PH , is
doesn't even register/match any color on the chart .
I was going to swap out 10g of old from the 40g with 10g of newly mixed water in hopes this would help bring the PH up some . But when I test both
waters .....the PH is realy low . So to make sure my test kit was ok , I tested water from a 20g I have , and that water tested PH 8.2

So now I'm thinking , maybe I should remove 10g from my 40g and replace it with 10g from my 20g that tested ok ?

do you two think that is a wise idea or not ?
btw .....there is just sand in my 20g right now , as I've given away the crab and live rock I had in it .

S-B · #6 02-22-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow

easiest way to increase ph is to use ph buffer.

something like this.. http://www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/sh...ogno=k-mab0250

Thanks Willow ......I'll be picking some up today.

just to let you all know , I've swapped out 10g of water . I used 10g from
my 20g tank that all tested out fine . maybe for the next few days I should do a 10% water change ?

Quinster · #7 02-22-2005, 05:46 PM

do a slow Kalk drip to up the PH...if you need some let me know...I have lots!!

Skimmerking · #8 02-22-2005, 09:32 PM

the best way is to drip kalk like quinster, says its good because it will keep the
PH up and steady to help your tank.

mike

Willow · #9 02-23-2005, 12:46 AM

here is a RFH ph article that might be helpful

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

S-B · #10 02-23-2005, 01:35 AM

Thanks everyone for the great help !!
just to update you all ...The 10g water swap has made a big improvement
on my tank . My PH is up at 8.3 and my regal tang is looking "ALOT" better tonight !!

I will be putting a kalk drip together so this doesn't happen again .

I told my wife she can look at the tank now .......she was upset this morning and thought we would loose the tang .

Thanks