PH low

[The Ugly Phase]

PH reading 7.2-7.5 for the last few days i do have a bacteria bloom going on for the passed few days could that be the problem?

 

[Jamie9]

I believe that the bacteria can convert a fair amount of O2 to CO2, which would lower the pH. I also notice in your tank thread that you've recently made a change to how you handle alkalinity. Not sure how you are measuring pH, but if it's a probe it might need calibration, and it could swing depending on what time of day it is, lights on/off, if you are using a skimmer, etc.

 

[Kmst80]

PH reading 7.2-7.5 for the last few days i do have a bacteria bloom going on for the passed few days could that be the problem?

Bacterial blooms need oxygen and consume oxygen. Lower oxygen causes the pH drop. It can even cause fish to not have enough oxygen.
Get a bubbler going, open windows if you can to help more oxygen to get in the room, maybe let a fan blow over the water surface to help oxygen/co2 exchange

 

[The Ugly Phase]

yeah i found out the problem my skimmer was turned off somehow . . think i need to order another 1 as this 1 is abit dodgy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Bacterial bloom with inadequate aeration is perhaps the only way to get pH down to the low 7’s.

Hopefully more aeration from a skimmer will help.

 

[The Ugly Phase]

Bacterial bloom with inadequate aeration is perhaps the only way to get pH down to the low 7’s.

Hopefully more aeration from a skimmer will help.

in 20 mins the ph shot up from 7.2 to 7.59 the tester will test again in 40 mins so will see what its like then

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds promising. :)

 

[The Ugly Phase]

7.91 now