[AquaticLife] Changing Ph
A general fact about aquariums is that the pH will always go down over time unless there are buffers added to the water. You may need to increase the PWC schedule on that tank.
Decaying detritus in the gravel puts out carbonic acid among other things and the bacteria eating the detritus also use up many of the trace minerals and elements in the water and put out CO2. You should make sure and vacuum the gravel to remove most of the decaying detritus which will slow down the lowering of the pH.
Also, regular filter maintenance will remove the decaying detritus from the filter system which is also using up a lot of the trace elements and minerals in the water and putting out more CO2 and carbonic acid. I have a long article on my blog about “Filter Maintenance and Cleaning”.
Also, your fish, as they grow, also put out a lot more waste and CO2 from breathing and use up a lot more of the trace elements and minerals in the water. The CO2 from the fish will also lower the pH.
This is why it’s so important to do regular testing on a tank and do more PWC’s (partial water changes) on a tank that needs it. Each tank’s ecology is different and what works for one tank might not work for another tank.
You mention Angelfish and Catfish. The Angelfish definitely get much too large for 10G or 20G tanks. A single Angelfish needs at least a 35G tank. The Catfish, depending on which species, usually get much too large for a 10G or 20G tank also.
Having undersized tanks will not only cause you water quality issues but it will also cause stunting to the fish which will lower their immune systems and shorten their lifespans.
If you go to my blog, I have a long article on “Hailey’s 10 Gallon Tank Stocking Suggestions” which will give you a better idea of what kind of fish you could keep in a 10G tank that will not cause problems.
Lenny Vasbinder Fish Blog - http://GoldLenny.blogspot.com (Links to articles referenced above listed on the right side under Archives - Year, Month and under Labels)
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
