Realllllly low pH in QT tank...Can't figure this out

[Johnny Reefer]

What's your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates at?
Are you doing frequent (emphasis on the frequent) partial water changes?

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

What's your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates at?
Are you doing frequent (emphasis on the frequent) partial water changes?

0,0 and 15. No frequent changes, just once a week. This is a cycled tank, not just set up last minute for new fish. Whats the emphasis on frequent for and what does it have to do with the PH?

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

..... This is a cycled tank, not just set up last minute for new fish. ....

We have different QT methods then.
My QT tank is not cycled. In fact, it is empty when I'm not using it.
When I start it up, I do a water change on my display tank. The outgoing water goes into the QT tank. I then mix up a 5g bucket of new water. The next day I start doing daily 25% water changes to the QT tank. It's a 20g tank.
I drain 5g from the QT, siphoning any uneaten food at the same time.
Then I take 5g from the display sump and pour that into the QT.
The new 5g batch goes into the display sump.
Then I mix another new 5g batch for the next day, and so on...
This method helps keep ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH in check.

But you mentioned hyposalinity, so I suppose this method wouldn't work for you. Maybe try it without using display water. Just the new water.

At any rate, I think you should try daily water changes. JMO.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

We have different QT methods then.
My QT tank is not cycled. In fact, it is empty when I'm not using it.
When I start it up, I do a water change on my display tank. The outgoing water goes into the QT tank. I then mix up a 5g bucket of new water. The next day I start doing daily 25% water changes to the QT tank. It's a 20g tank.
I drain 5g from the QT, siphoning any uneaten food at the same time.
Then I take 5g from the display sump and pour that into the QT.
The new 5g batch goes into the display sump.
Then I mix another new 5g batch for the next day, and so on...
This method helps keep ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH in check.

But you mentioned hyposalinity, so I suppose this method wouldn't work for you. Maybe try it without using display water. Just the new water.

At any rate, I think you should try daily water changes. JMO.

Yeah everyone has their opinions. This has worked for me for me for years and I have never lost a fish in QT. Im not interested in that much work to be honest when having a cycled QT tank works just as well. I never treat with copper or any other meds that could harm the bio media.

There is a PH problem this time though...still not sure why.

[Sebae again]

Low Mg can cause low ph.