Cycle gone

[Newbie]

Got my first 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 15nitrate reading after dosing ammonia. Dosed again to double check prior to adding fish, both ammonia and nitrites were zero but nitrates were around 30. Did a 20% water change with a bucket that’s treated with prime and has been sitting for about a week. Checked everything today and 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 10 nitrates, and Ph -6. My Ph has consistently been at 7 in the tank so I got concerned with the drop. Check my tap and it’s 7.4. Checked the bucket and it’s -6. Anyone else have the same issues with sitting water? What do I do now? I got crushed coral coming to hopefully save my cycle?

Edited May 30, 2022 by Newbie

[Fish Folk]

Ok. Just want to be sure that I’m following you correctly here.

Just for clarity, when you compare pH 7.4 with “pH -6,” I assume you’re just meaning “pH 6.”

Do you have any plants in the aquarium yet?

Out of the tap, water parameters settle. Either they curve upward, or dip down. Aquarium conditions (e.g. substrate, acid from decay, additives, etc.) can affect the trajectory of water from the tap as well.

Generally speaking, if your water is soft, your pH is liable to drop. This will not necessarily affect your cycle — per your concern.

Ammonia becomes Ammonium at some level (maybe ca. 6.4 pH) but this is not a major problem unless of course the livestock you’ve chosen to keep requires higher pH.

I learned awhile ago not to force my water into a state it doesn’t come naturally from my tap.

As a result of my soft water (like yours), I am able to easily keep these…

[Newbie]

On 5/30/2022 at 9:47 AM, Fish Folk said:

Ok. Just want to be sure that I’m following you correctly here.

Just for clarity, when you compare pH 7.4 with “pH -6,” I assume you’re just meaning “pH 6.”

Do you have any plants in the aquarium yet?

Out of the tap, water parameters settle. Either they curve upward, or dip down. Aquarium conditions (e.g. substrate, acid from decay, additives, etc.) can affect the trajectory of water from the tap as well.

Generally speaking, if your water is soft, your pH is liable to drop. This will not necessarily affect your cycle — per your concern.

Ammonia becomes Ammonium at some level (maybe ca. 6.4 pH) but this is not a major problem unless of course the livestock you’ve chosen to keep requires higher pH.

I learned awhile ago not to force my water into a state it doesn’t come naturally from my tap.

As a result of my soft water (like yours), I am able to easily keep these…

So I put -6 because the master test kit only goes as low as 6 so it could be under?

I have two anubias and one Java fern in my 10gal. I was hoping to get a betta so the Ph should be around 7

[Fish Folk]

Gotcha. You certainly can add crushed coral. ACO has suggestions for how much to add here. That might help raise your buffer and keep pH from crashing.

Hope this works for you! If not, just remember that for most water, there is always a beautiful fish that loves it.

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/30/2022 at 5:47 AM, Newbie said:

Did a 20% water change with a bucket that’s treated with prime and has been sitting for about a week.

Just clarifying here.

You have water in a bucket for a week?  Was it Aerated?
 

On 5/30/2022 at 5:47 AM, Newbie said:

Check my tap and it’s 7.4. Checked the bucket and it’s -6. Anyone else have the same issues with sitting water?

Yes.  It's very likely just due to the water sitting without flow.  The major thing is going to be the interaction between KH, PH, and CO2.

I was running a test this week, I had my tank reporting 300+ for GH and then magically I had soft water.  Depending on setup, your results will vary.  How was the bucket setup?
 

On 5/30/2022 at 5:47 AM, Newbie said:

I got crushed coral coming to hopefully save my cycle?

I think there might be some confusion here, but I want to clarify the above first. You're cycle is going to be based off of filtration and other factors.  Water chemistry swings do happen and that's partially why we do water changes.

Edit:  If you are having PH swings like this, it's going to be useful to report out KH, GH, PH data from:
A.  Out of the tap, test
B.  Sample above, Aerate for 24 hours, re-test
C.  Take a sample from your tank, test.

If you are mainly concerned about cycle, that's a different issue/question to dive into.
 

Edited May 30, 2022 by nabokovfan87
testing clarity

[Patrick_G]

I’m with @Fish Folk, there are a ton on fish that’ll do fine in your water. Almost anything from the Amazon will work.
The crushed coral will definitely help stabilize the PH for a Betta.