Lower PH

bfoleyiii · 03/29/2011, 05:03 PM

I am about two weeks into my cycle.
My reading for today:
NH4-0
NO2-2.0
NO3- 10.0
pH-7.7
Temp-78,7
PO4-.25

I am a couple of days into a solid diatom bloom and things seem to be on track.

Today I was checking the TDS of my top off water and it was reading 13 TDS. I was thinking this seems a bit early to have my filters need to be replaced (two months old and maybe 300g of water made) so I checked straight out of my RO/DI unit and it was zero, checked the jug we use for my wifes coffee maker and it was also zero. As I started to think about it more I use a 5g bucket from a local sandwitch place sells after they empty them of pickels. I cleaned the bucket out before using it but it still has a smell of pickles/vinager. I typically fill the 5g up and transfer the water to a brute in the garage and just throw the 5g into the brute when not in use and am guessing I have some leaching out of the 5g bucket. Now the 5g will only be used for the trash side of water changes.

I currently do not have a skimmer running (that is one hold till this week after the lawnmower gave up the ghost). I have been attributing the lower pH to the cycle and no skimmer but now I wonder if maybe the vinager could be the cause.

Is it ok to finish off the cycle top offs with the current water or should I dump it .

njjetfan · 03/29/2011, 05:44 PM

It is completely normal for water to increase in tds when sitting in a bucket. As long as it comes out as zero out of the Ro unit your filters are still good. As far as what is acceptable leaching your guess is a as good as mine. Im fairly certain though that during your cycle phase using this slightly contaminated water as top off is completely fine.

njjetfan · 03/29/2011, 05:46 PM

I am also certain the residual vinegar in the buckets is not lowering your ph. More importantly what is your alkalinity at.

bertoni · 03/29/2011, 06:21 PM

The pH in new tanks often reads a bit low due to the decay going on. The ammonia is zero, but there might still be enough decay or leftovers to lower the pH. I'd ignore the issue for now.

bfoleyiii · 03/30/2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njjetfan

I am also certain the residual vinegar in the buckets is not lowering your ph. More importantly what is your alkalinity at.

dKH is 8.3

thinking I'll just burn through what I have and then clean out my brute.

I did see a big jump in Nitrates today, so probably time to set up QT for my first fish.

Thanks again all.

Uncle Salty 05 · 03/30/2011, 12:37 PM

I like to run my dKH at between 9 and 10 by dripping saturated kalkwasser.
That is the best way I have found for keeping my parameters stable.

03/29/2011, 05:03 PM	#1
bfoleyiii Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corona De Tucson Posts: 109	Lower PH I am about two weeks into my cycle. My reading for today: NH4-0 NO2-2.0 NO3- 10.0 pH-7.7 Temp-78,7 PO4-.25 I am a couple of days into a solid diatom bloom and things seem to be on track. Today I was checking the TDS of my top off water and it was reading 13 TDS. I was thinking this seems a bit early to have my filters need to be replaced (two months old and maybe 300g of water made) so I checked straight out of my RO/DI unit and it was zero, checked the jug we use for my wifes coffee maker and it was also zero. As I started to think about it more I use a 5g bucket from a local sandwitch place sells after they empty them of pickels. I cleaned the bucket out before using it but it still has a smell of pickles/vinager. I typically fill the 5g up and transfer the water to a brute in the garage and just throw the 5g into the brute when not in use and am guessing I have some leaching out of the 5g bucket. Now the 5g will only be used for the trash side of water changes. I currently do not have a skimmer running (that is one hold till this week after the lawnmower gave up the ghost). I have been attributing the lower pH to the cycle and no skimmer but now I wonder if maybe the vinager could be the cause. Is it ok to finish off the cycle top offs with the current water or should I dump it . __________________ Bob3 Current Tank Info: 125 in the making

03/29/2011, 06:21 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The pH in new tanks often reads a bit low due to the decay going on. The ammonia is zero, but there might still be enough decay or leftovers to lower the pH. I'd ignore the issue for now. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/30/2011, 12:37 PM	#6
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I like to run my dKH at between 9 and 10 by dripping saturated kalkwasser. That is the best way I have found for keeping my parameters stable. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

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03/29/2011, 05:44 PM	#2
njjetfan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 57	It is completely normal for water to increase in tds when sitting in a bucket. As long as it comes out as zero out of the Ro unit your filters are still good. As far as what is acceptable leaching your guess is a as good as mine. Im fairly certain though that during your cycle phase using this slightly contaminated water as top off is completely fine.

03/29/2011, 05:46 PM	#3
njjetfan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 57	I am also certain the residual vinegar in the buckets is not lowering your ph. More importantly what is your alkalinity at.