Friends tank question. Any thoughts?

[Waterlife]

What should I tell my friend to do with her tank?

[Patrick_G]

It sounds like she has a good grasp of how water chemistry works. 
She could add some crushed coral if she doesn’t want to keep adding baking soda. 

Edited August 26, 2022 by Patrick_G

[Jennifer V]

I had the same issue and added crushed coral to my tank. Everything seems to be resolved now even months later. I would try that before adding baking soda. 

[AnimalNerd98]

Baking soda works in a pinch, but if she is starting over anyways, crushed coral is much more reliable. 

[face]

even with less than 1 dkh i wouldn't expect the ph to go below 6 so quickly just from bacteria eating ammonia the effect is quite small and is mostly fixed by aeration my guess would be the driftwood or maybe the substrate depending on what it is as for what to do about finding it as said above crushed coral is nice no need to go all madmad science every water change lol.

also if ph drops it shouldn't kill the bacteria just make it unable to eat if the ph increases again the cycle should start to work again as long as the bacteria haven't starved.