Higher PH after cycling

[Memphis118]

Has anyone had experience with SL Aqua Soil? Originally when i was cycling, my PH hovered around 5.8 to 6.2.... but the last 2 weeks its been around 6.35 at night and around 6.45 during the day when lights are on. 

Could there be any reason for this change overtime? Especially in the last 2 weeks?

Things I've added in the tank so far:

Moss, Alder Cones, Indian Almond leaf, Cholla wood, and a sochting oxydator for extra o2 in the tank.

is this normal to have my PH around this? Just wanted to make sure the soil isnt over buffering to keep it down, if there was something in the tank raising it.

[jayc]

9 hours ago, Memphis118 said:

Originally when i was cycling, my PH hovered around 5.8 to 6.2.... but the last 2 weeks its been around 6.35 at night and around 6.45 during the day when lights are on.

Yes this is normal.

When a tank is cycling, pH will be lower due to the process of the bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite and then nitrates. I could go into a full on chemistry lesson here, but that might take too long.

Once the tank is cycled, the process of converting nitrogenous waste is slowed, and pH normalises.

 

Your tanks 6.4 pH is within normal range for that SL Aqua substrate. nothing to worry about.

With all the pH lowering additives you have (Moss, Alder Cones, Indian Almond leaf, Cholla wood), the pH will eventually drift a bit lower as the tank continues to mature.

[Memphis118]

2 hours ago, jayc said:

Yes this is normal.

When a tank is cycling, pH will be lower due to the process of the bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite and then nitrates. I could go into a full on chemistry lesson here, but that might take too long.

Once the tank is cycled, the process of converting nitrogenous waste is slowed, and pH normalises.

 

Your tanks 6.4 pH is within normal range for that SL Aqua substrate. nothing to worry about.

With all the pH lowering additives you have (Moss, Alder Cones, Indian Almond leaf, Cholla wood), the pH will eventually drift a bit lower as the tank continues to mature.

Thank you Jayc, appreciate your help. The reason I was worried was because SL Aqua substrate says they buffer to about 6 to 6.2. I figured, if mine was reading higher, there might have been something in the tank raising it.. causing the substrate to work harder to buffer lower... in turn, burning out faster.

If you say 6.5 ish is normal for this substrate, then we're good :) Just figured it was odd people say it buffers to 6 to 6.2 ish

[jayc]

Do you have any rocks in the tank?

[Memphis118]

4 hours ago, jayc said:

Do you have any rocks in the tank?

No rocks in the tank.

I have a piece of slate that is holding the drift wood in place, but that's about it. I heard slate is inert so it shouldn't be an issue

[jayc]

4 hours ago, Memphis118 said:

slate is inert so it shouldn't be an issue

Yeah, slate is inert and won't impact pH.

The only other possibility is not enough substrate was used for the size of your tank.

You can try adding a bit more substrate. Otherwise, if you are not in a hurry, the tank will naturally drop in pH once the tank matures.

[Memphis118]

6 hours ago, jayc said:

Yeah, slate is inert and won't impact pH.

The only other possibility is not enough substrate was used for the size of your tank.

You can try adding a bit more substrate. Otherwise, if you are not in a hurry, the tank will naturally drop in pH once the tank matures.

Will adding more of this substrate in the tank now, cause any kind of ammonia spike? Also, the tank has roughly 2 inches of substrate

[jayc]

20 minutes ago, Memphis118 said:

Will adding more of this substrate in the tank now, cause any kind of ammonia spike?

It might, but nothing a cycled filter won't be able to handle. Just don't add too much at once. 2-3 cups a day should be safe. <edit> - actually, depends on the size of your tank. You didn't say how big your tank was, so I was playing it safe. 

 

Edited February 5, 2018 by jayc

[Memphis118]

2 hours ago, jayc said:

It might, but nothing a cycled filter won't be able to handle. Just don't add too much at once. 2-3 cups a day should be safe. <edit> - actually, depends on the size of your tank. You didn't say how big your tank was, so I was playing it safe. 

 

Tank is 17 gallons.

So I was curious, and took about 2 inch worth of substrate from my tank into a cup, and took some tank water. Waited a few hours, and noticed that the PH still buffers to about 6.4 6.5. I find this strange, since SL aqua advertises the substrate to hit 6 to 6.2.

I wonder if the buffering ability is diminishing.  

So I guess it wasn't my tank after all, and it's the soil not  buffering to what it was being advertised as (originally it was buffering to 6 ish)

[jayc]

14 minutes ago, Memphis118 said:

So I guess it wasn't my tank after all, and it's the soil not  buffering to what it was being advertised as (

Can never trust what manufacturers say sometimes. 

Looks like you will have to monitor the pH to see if it keeps rising.

[Memphis118]

Will do. As long as it stays under 6.6 6.7, I should be fine. Lets hope it keeps it down for a while. I would hate to have to switch substrates months from now.