aquarium siphon tube

Questions and Answers on the pH and KH problems in African Cichlid Aquarium

Question:

One of these days I'll write the chemical for pH, KH and GH and perhaps recall, over time. But now new councils. I have many good suggestions in my mbuna tank fairly new and so far it has been doing very well, but something is wrong with my water. My tap water comes out to about pH 7.6. I have about 30 pounds of rocks drilled at present exists. But for some reason my pH seems be decreasing. 7.2 are now approaching

My gH is still quite high 200 more or less, but my kH has also started from around 120 currently to just under 80. Nitrates are between 10 and 20. 0-0 at the bad things. I am doing 30-40% water changes every week. I have 16 fish in a girl 55 between 1 1 / 2 and 3. A I may need a reminder about the water chemistry or it could be my "substrate mystery." Along with some small gravel as I have used in tanks many of them without apparent detriment, also I have maybe 15 # of things I was given some time ago with my first cichlids, I have a small tank etc. no idea what it is but said it was "supposed to be good for aquarium plants." It is approximately 1 / 3 each of black, red brick and tan stone. Although relatively small that are more like little chips of songs – rather uneven and rough around the edges. On the other hand may not be at all. Any ideas?

Thank you.

Answer:

There is probably a little heavier than the production of a normal amount of acid production. Nitrification occurring acids (nitric acid) and if you have a lot of organic build up that can be part of his reason.

What are your filter (s)? Some filters, such as large cartridge filters can cause a large amount of acid without cleaning (washing) regularly. If you have an under gravel filter, make sure Occasionally remove the lifting pipes and trap mulm that accumulates under the plate. With all the filters is still important for mulm remove as much and other organic debris as possible, a vacuum Aquarius is the preferred way.

As for your KH and GH, I am a strong advocate of maintaining a KH and adequate calcium levels for many reasons, one of them is to the problem you have, the other is that GH is the easy way to know the levels of calcium in FW, and calcium is important for fish health. Crushed coral or aragonite can help, but in my experience (especially high pH in aquariums, such as tanks, African cichlids), no always sufficient, and that do not dissolve quickly enough to deliver adequate amounts of bicarbonates, magnesium, calcium or KH and GH.

In the closed environment which is an aquarium, I think that external sources which are dissolved or added manually are often necessary. There are many products available target = "_blank"> Mar Chem Marine Buffer which can be used in fresh water (especially for Rift Lake cichlids) and is preferable to sodium bicarbonate because balance of sodium bicarbonate / magnesium and other trace elements, tanks wonder that others advocate here I know a lot.

At the risk of being too commercial aquaria seldom without my regular Shell wonder for the control of calcium and electrolytes.

On the substrate plant that gave, it sounds like a product, such as Eco Complete or azoo bedding plant producers to lower its pH.

I have an article on KH, calcium and electrolytes: target = "_blank"> "CALCIUM, KH, and magnesium in aquariums; How to maintain an adequate KH, why calcium and electrolytes are important."

My point was that cite GH Calcium and Magnesium is part of GH and

both are needed for proper osmotic processes in fish. If there are problems with KH, there are often problems with GH (although in this case there appears to be a problem). The problem here also indicates that organic decomposition greatly reduces the KH .. Once more I also check to build filters. In aquariums requiring customers experiencing this problem, many times had a filter with a thick layer of mulch at the bottom. Removing this, then add a stabilizer of KH (which had better results with a

KH slow dissolution stabilizer), and the problem was solved.

For the article including pictures, please visit this link:

"PH and KH problems in African cichlids Aquarium

About the Author

By Carl Strohmeyer

http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/

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