calafish

@darkG & @Intous thanks for your replies! I have a20 long. Even if i found something that bumped my ph to 7.0 that would not be a big jump from 6.4?, temporarily . But yes i do not want a really big jump in PH

@Intuos Thanks so much for your answer. I am looking to stock Cardinal tetras, which apparently like a more acidic water, but i would like to get this tank cycled? Catch 22 i believe? How long would it take the crushed coral to lift the lift PH up? and when my tank is cycled can i take the crush coral out and would it got back to 6.4 etc..? is Baking soda a bad idea?

I am 10 days out in cycling of my new tank and have used Dr. Tim's one and only along with Dr. Tim's ammonia. I have had brief tics up both nitrates nitrates and ammonia, so I believe the cycle has started and I was wondering how important is PH being 7.0 or higher in cycling a new tank. My pH has stuck around 6.4 all this time. I believe it may be due in part to the substrate Fluval Stratum that i used. From what I have read on other forums and on Dr. Tims website, that PH about 7.0 it is vital? Others have commented that fluval stratum has a tendency to keep PH a little lower? Do I need to add some baking soda, to get the PH more neutral?

Thanks@James Black!

Hi All, I am a newbie and was curious as to how mystery snails and cardinal tetras make good tank mates, as they both enjoy different water parameters? For example mystery snails like a pH above 7.2, yet cardinal tetras like a pH 6-7(nearer to 6.0 is ideal) etc? I was hoping to get some clarification on this, and some solid advice on this? Thanks