First attempt at fishkeeping and aquascaping - 60L tropical aquarium

[FrozenShivers]

I would just add that at a pH of 6, Ammonia is likely less of a problem, and Nitrite will become very toxic at very small PPM levels. (It's reversed in pH7+ water).

Good to know as I wasn’t aware and I have soft water also!

 

[Bradders]

pH = 6.4 (or lower?)
pH = 6.0 - 6.5 (or lower?)

Thats odd. The water report mean pH testing shows a pH of 8.2. But your tests are showing a pH of 6.0-6.4 - and that includes the tap water testing! Thats quite a difference.

I suspect now you introduced 12 Ember Tetras yesterday, this is going to kick-start the ammonia source and cycle, so I think the next couple of days to a week are going to be interesting in terms of water chemistry. I am currently cycling with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8, so we are not too far off on the pH level.

 

[itudela]

Thats odd. The water report mean pH testing shows a pH of 8.2. But your tests are showing a pH of 6.0-6.4 - and that includes the tap water testing! Thats quite a difference.

I also noticed that. I usually measure the tap water as it comes out (rather cold). Proper measurements with a pH meter equipped with a temperature probe would take into account the temperature, but I would not expect that to result in a difference of 2!

We are around 6 miles away... I am curious if something may be going on that may have that effect between the treatment plant and our home.

I suspect now you introduced 12 Ember Tetras yesterday, this is going to kick-start the ammonia source and cycle, so I think the next couple of days to a week are going to be interesting in terms of water chemistry.

I'll make some popcorn! By Wednesday the cavalry (i.e. new plants) should have arrived. Hopefully we will have made it then.

 

[itudela]

Morning update...

Tank water test results with JBL strips:
NO3 = 10 ppm
NO2 = 0 ppm
GH = 4 - 7 degrees
KH = 0 degrees
pH = 6.4 (or lower?)
Cl2 = 0 ppm

Tank water test results with Aqua are Master Test Kit:
NO3 = 5 - 10 ppm (very weak, but progressively growing)
NO2 = 0 ppm
NH3 = 0 ppm
KH = 0 degrees
pH = 6.0 - 6.5 (or lower?)
PO4 - P = 0 - 0.25 ppm (starting to show a very weak yellow color, depending on background and light)

Tap water looks exactly the same as before with a strip, although the pH seems a bit higher today (6.4 - 6.8) and with a touch of chlorine (0.8 - 1.5 ppm).

On another topic, one of the plants I got seems to be quite happy. I splitted the pot into 4 bits, and although all of them are growing, two of the stems are thriving, throwing roots everywhere. If anyone knows the species, please do let me know! @jamiep, any chance you could know it? You got the other one right.

 

[Bradders]

Tap water looks exactly the same as before with a strip, although the pH seems a bit higher today (6.4 - 6.8) and with a touch of chlorine (0.8 - 1.5 ppm).

I am still perplexed why the 44 water supplier tests done up to June this year, never had tap water lower than a pH of 7.8. But you are getting much lower! How weird is that?! I know these things are never totally bang on, but still.......

 

[itudela]

I am still perplexed why the 44 water supplier tests done up to June this year, never had tap water lower than a pH of 7.8.

I guess the network between the plant and our home. I am going to let the tap water standing and then do another test... And probably check our neighbours' water in case we need a plumber!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

That's odd. The water report mean pH testing shows a pH of 8.2.

It is because of the water company using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) injection for <"control of plumbosolvency">.

I am still perplexed why the 44 water supplier tests done up to June this year, never had tap water lower than a pH of 7.8. But you are getting much lower! How weird is that?! I

The reason the values are so strange is that NaOH is a "strong base", so only need a small volume addition to raise the pH. Because it is a "strong base" <"strong and weak bases"> it doesn't add any <"buffering">, all the Na+ and OH- ions are already in solution (it is "fully ionised", there isn't any undissolved NaOH).

In a lot of UK tap water you would have some <"buffering from carbonate ions" (dKH)>, derived from dissolved CaCO3. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a weak base and <"technically insoluble in water">, but soluble in weak acids.

We can ignore the <"sodium Na+ ion in pH terms">, but you only need a very small addition of an acid (proton donor) for the H+ ion to combine with OH- ion and be neutralised as H2O and the pH to return to pH7.

If you have a small excess of H+ ions (from <"dissolved CO2"> etc) the pH will fall below pH7.

cheers Darrel

 

[jamiep]

Alternanthera Reineckii. Maybe the Rosanervig variety, but unsure

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