Lowering pH and starting cycle

Lemeshianos · 03/31/2010, 01:18 AM

Quite a lot of newbie questions follow below...

Well I've got a high pH. Tested with Sera tests it's at about 8.6.
At the moment I only have DIY rock in the tank that was made about 6 months ago. It stayed for 1 month in fresh water that was changed every 2-3 days and then the rest 5 months(or maybe more) in a freshwater aquarium.
I believe it has leached out anything that could raise pH, since it was sitting in a freshwater tank and fish were ok, although fresh water fish are more hardy on pH fluctuations.

Anyway, should I add some vinegar to help lower the pH? Any idea how much I should add? Or I just leave it like that?

Also I will need another 10-12 lb. of live rock. The problem is that I can get them right now for $13.5 per lb or I can wait a month for a fresh batch to arrive that would cost $10 per lb.
I 'm thinking that the fresh batch will probably have more live animals(worms, etc) on it, but it will need to cycle for sure. On the other hand the more expensive batch is already cycled.
If I wait for the fresh batch is it a good idea to drop one or two cocktail shrimps to start building ammonia? The live rock in this case will be added in a month. Is that enough time for bacteria to start develop on the DIY rock?

If your live rock is 25% of the total needed by the thumb rule, will I be able to add a pair of small clownfish(if test kits indicate no NH3/NO2 and presence of NO3) or should I wait longer for the live rock to seed the DIY rock?

PRDubois · 03/31/2010, 01:28 AM

Get the rock now, or you will run a 2nd cycle.

sowellj · 03/31/2010, 07:04 AM

I wouldn't worry about your pH, it will take a while for it to stabilize.

Lemeshianos · 03/31/2010, 07:43 AM

Ok. I managed to get an article on reefkeeping magazine on how to reduce ph without having an impact on kh. But I will wait it out, since I lean more to waiting a month to get a fresh batch of live rock.
Will a shrimp in the tank do any good for this one month? Like start building some bacteria and with the addition of the live rock after a month, I can wait another 2-4weeks before adding fish?

sowellj · 03/31/2010, 09:49 AM

I would just wait until you get your liverock, but that is just me, and, the reality of it is it won't make that big of a difference in the long run. As far as when to add fish, you will need to know what your levels are.

jbanks · 03/31/2010, 11:16 AM

You can also add a good bacterial source like Microbe Lifts Special Blend or Brightwell's MB7. I use both. Either of these products can help you seed your tank with bacteria and help to maintain the population of good bacteria in your system. Now would be a good time to add some.

03/31/2010, 01:18 AM	#1
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	Lowering pH and starting cycle Quite a lot of newbie questions follow below... Well I've got a high pH. Tested with Sera tests it's at about 8.6. At the moment I only have DIY rock in the tank that was made about 6 months ago. It stayed for 1 month in fresh water that was changed every 2-3 days and then the rest 5 months(or maybe more) in a freshwater aquarium. I believe it has leached out anything that could raise pH, since it was sitting in a freshwater tank and fish were ok, although fresh water fish are more hardy on pH fluctuations. Anyway, should I add some vinegar to help lower the pH? Any idea how much I should add? Or I just leave it like that? Also I will need another 10-12 lb. of live rock. The problem is that I can get them right now for $13.5 per lb or I can wait a month for a fresh batch to arrive that would cost $10 per lb. I 'm thinking that the fresh batch will probably have more live animals(worms, etc) on it, but it will need to cycle for sure. On the other hand the more expensive batch is already cycled. If I wait for the fresh batch is it a good idea to drop one or two cocktail shrimps to start building ammonia? The live rock in this case will be added in a month. Is that enough time for bacteria to start develop on the DIY rock? If your live rock is 25% of the total needed by the thumb rule, will I be able to add a pair of small clownfish(if test kits indicate no NH3/NO2 and presence of NO3) or should I wait longer for the live rock to seed the DIY rock?

03/31/2010, 01:28 AM	#2
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Get the rock now, or you will run a 2nd cycle. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/31/2010, 11:16 AM	#6
jbanks Lover of God's Creations Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 2,250	You can also add a good bacterial source like Microbe Lifts Special Blend or Brightwell's MB7. I use both. Either of these products can help you seed your tank with bacteria and help to maintain the population of good bacteria in your system. Now would be a good time to add some. __________________ Jonathan Go ahead... Put the price on the bag. I don't have that problem any longer :) Current Tank Info: 180g Custom rimless Starphire, 48 X10 ATI PM T5 fixture, Vortech MP40w X3 with battery Backup, Bubble King Super Marin 250, Geo 612 Calc reactor, Profilux stand-alone Doser, Neptune Apex controller, Ozotech Poseidon 200 ozone generator

03/31/2010, 07:04 AM	#3
sowellj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: greenwood, sc Posts: 712	I wouldn't worry about your pH, it will take a while for it to stabilize.

03/31/2010, 07:43 AM	#4
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	Ok. I managed to get an article on reefkeeping magazine on how to reduce ph without having an impact on kh. But I will wait it out, since I lean more to waiting a month to get a fresh batch of live rock. Will a shrimp in the tank do any good for this one month? Like start building some bacteria and with the addition of the live rock after a month, I can wait another 2-4weeks before adding fish?

03/31/2010, 09:49 AM	#5
sowellj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: greenwood, sc Posts: 712	I would just wait until you get your liverock, but that is just me, and, the reality of it is it won't make that big of a difference in the long run. As far as when to add fish, you will need to know what your levels are.