Thank you so much for all this information. I have had my goldfish and koi for about 5 years and I had moved to a new apartment and upgraded the tank to give them more room. All of a sudden my ph has been really low and I just noticed that some of my goldfish are losing color and scales so I checked my levels and again my ph is to low. Now I know why . I didn't put the sub in the bottom like I had in the old tank. This new tank is about 7 months old. Now I am running to the store and get there sub now . Thank you again saving our swimming Angels.
To be honest this channels deserved to have millions of subscribers because this channel is so helpful and easy to understand, I have subscribe this channel for weeks now,nice work bro!!😊
As an extra idea, for those of us without 3d backgrounds to dump things behind, I put mine in larger media bags and use it for a base for my rocks to sit on. This gets the rocks off the glass (like egg crates) and also allows for me to still cover it 100% with sand. Then, when I need to replace it in a year or so, just grab the bag during a water change and replace. Always hidden.
I can’t get my axolotl tank to hit the brown level of the high range ph (7.4)😵💫. I added sand to it and didn’t know that would change the water high range ph. Everything else is just were it needs to be. Except for that one thing help!!! Also the people at pets mart told me to do the brown leaves so I bought a box it’s been in the tank for two days and nothing yet
How do you know how much Coral to add? My pH is out of the tap under 6.4 ...6.6 and I like it to be mid 7s.... a 5 gallon tank for some mystery snails....
I need to raise the PH level in my convict cichlid tank. I have the same gravel that you show in you first video for beginners. Can I get some crushed coral and just cover over the gravel?
Hey kaveman need ur help . I have a 10 gallon fish tank with 4 fish 1 a corycatfish and the other are 3 small colourful tetras. The problem is when i about to feed sinking pellets for the cory the tetras will always eat them and leave nothing for the cory . Hope You can help.
C02 scrubber helps too, carbonic acid is the problem. We breath out c02 and it reacts with water. Only problem is, the media depletes and has to be changed. I just use a skimmer and the air line is ran outside to take fresh air in and get it into the water column. It helps a bit but nothing is better than an open window or door. Of course very good waterflow and surface agitation is key. I have 4 powerheads and 2 gyres to keep things moving. Dosing Kalkwasser is another route but i have not started using it yet. Gonna have to learn more on that.
For these products...i have seachem alkaline buffer...If i follow the reccomended dose it will work?One last question how long does it take for the victoria buffer to work ?
i have been struggling with low alkaline and ph. I wonder what is going on since this is the first time it drops even thought I have not changed any of my routines. I will try the crushed coral method and hopefully that helps me. I have been using API Ph up but it only lasts a day and I worry it will stress my fish.
Crushed coral or Aragonite sand is the way to go. PH drops with time as your nitrates increase. This video will be helpful as well - th-cam.com/video/4F6zhccDam4/w-d-xo.html
Really enjoy watching your videos, The only question that I have is How do you know how much to add. For example how much would you put in a 50 g tank?
What about mussel shells can that increase the ph. Sorry crushed mybe even powdered shells. I need 8.025 to 8.1 on the ph. Saltwater tanks am I right 😅. Ps I work at a restaurant that throws out thousands of mussel and clam shells every day so a few hundred pounds in just shells every day.
my tds used to be 150 now its 900 after a water change (i have arowana, discus, pacu, maru) so is it suitable if not how to reduce the tds? will this affect the fish?
Reside in a very developing area but unfortunately the water supply is from Borewell pumped out. So i presume Borewell is hard water with both Gh and Kh sufficiency..so PH is high. Right?. Very bad for discus keeping. 😁
How do you calculate how much a given quality of coral will raise pH, and how quickly? I'm interested in the method, but worried about raising levels too quickly and too high- i wouldn't want it hight than 7.6 for my needs.
First off again I really enjoy your channel I just bought a 90 corner tank and I'm excited to start it up but I'm waiting to do research and do it the right way, I spent literally hours watching your videos, my question is if I am about to start the cycle can I put API BIO CHEM ZORB AND ALGONE WATER CLARIFIER AND NITRATE REMOVER in my canister. Or will that prevent a good cycle, I already bought the prime and stability for the cycle( i used your links😉) should I also add the chiclid salt ?
So I have crushed coral in my filter and seiryu stone in my tank to help with the PH. The PH in my tank was about 7.4-7.6 straight out of the tap and after I added the coral to my filter and the seiryu stones in my tank my PH is sitting right at 8.0. Would you recommend using Malawi buffer when I do a water change to bump the PH back up so there aren’t any PH swings? Or just let the stones and crushed coral raise the PH back up on their own. I haven’t done a water change since I added the coral and stones. Or will adding the Malawi buffer on top of the coral and seiryu stones cause my PH to go over 8.0.
Hey there! So ive had a tank running for 4 years. ive always had low KH (20ppm) and a PH of about 6.7ppm my water is naturally pretty hard (75ppm). Fish are fine, but im having trouble with a 5 gallon tank. Its KH is 0 PH 6.5 and GH 75. I want to raise the KH in this tank, but also gradually in the others as well. I wanted to do crushed coral, but it raises hardness as well and im already at pretty hard water. Suggestions? Or should i use coral and a water softner? I want to come up with a solution that promotes stability rather than using chemicals every water change. What do you guys think?
Awesome video, I love the fake rock idea! how do you know how much crushed coral to add? Is there a specific brand you recommend? I keep fancy gold fish. My ph is around 6-6.5 and I wanted to get it up to at least 7.5. I have a 70 gallon tank with about 6 fish. Any advice is appreciated. :)
Hey kev! Love your channel! I’m about a year into the hobby and I currently have an adult angel and some silver tipped tetras! I will be upgrading my 37 gallon tank to a 55 gallon soon but my current tanks ph came out as 7.8 and my tap waters ph came back as 8.2. I’m wondering if this is high? Also I just bought some Flourite black substrate and I’m wondering if this will affect this ph, or will catfish such as synodontis thrive in a ph of 7.8-8.0? Thanks!
Unfortunately I dont because they came together with my background purchase. They are very good at responding to email inqueries, im sure if you sent them a screen shot of my rocks they could easily identify them for you. 😊 Dont forget my code to get a 10% discount! - Kaveman10
I believe those will also do great in raising your PH, but not 100% You can find the rocks here - aquadecorbackgrounds.com Tell them KaveMan sent you, lol Also use code Kaveman10 at checkout for a 10% discount 😊
Have a 60gal tank african cichlids did a 50% water change tested the water for nitrate, nitrite, ph all that good stuff and my nitrate levels are through the roof been adding prime and stability to lower the nitrate levels but they have stayed the same and im getting worried cause high levels of nitrate are very bad if you have any advice as to what i could do that would help alot
Hi thanks for your information.Im setting a new tank (185gallons).Finally next Saturday I will fill the tank with water.For PH I bought the Malawi / Victoria Buffer.So my question is..Do you suggest or should I use the crushed coral aswell and If I put it in the filter how long it will last till I have to replaced it ? I have fx6 series fluval filter.
Yes, using the crushed coral will be more beneficial so you dont need to use as much malawi buffer. How long it last depends on everything else in your tank...just keep checking PH weekly until you start to see a drop then you know your crushed coral is beginning to deplete.
@@KaveManAquatics Thanks alot 😊 Thanks to your videos im feeling more at ease. Im trying to apply all the knowledge that very kindly you are giving to us.👍👍👍 Thanks again.
When using crushed coral. Do you still use Malawi buffer when you do water changes? Since the water coming from the tap is a lower PH than the water that’s in the tank?
Its possible you may not need the malawi buffer at all when using crushed coral. But you'll need to test your water and see where the coral raises your PH to.
Hi Kave. I need your help please!! Don't know what to do. My cichlids are swimming on the top gasping for oxygen. Water test, Amm-0, Nitrate-40, Nitrite-0,Hardness-25(very soft),Chlorine-0,Alkalinity-180,PH-7.8,Temp-82. Thx in advance. Did 25% water change...
Hey kev i have a quick question i have a 35 gallon aquarium with angelfish in it an its been about a week an half an im showing no amonia around 3.0 or 5.0 nitrite an 20 ppm nitrate should i just go with it or do a lil water change because the nitrite being to high?
No water change bro! Leave that nitrite in the tank to continue growing bacteria....wait until you reach about 40 PPM of NITRATE then do a water change! You're almost there bro
Hey man love your videos, just starting into the hobby with a 125 south/central American tank, ph out of my tap is 7.3 give or take I’ve had my tank running a week now used Seachem prime let it run a couple days used fritzzyme 7 and added 4 silver dollars. Initial ph was around 7.4 last night it was 7.9 and now it’s 8.4. I’m using carabsea aragonite I think it’s crushed gravel is that my issue? Helpppppp lol!!! I really don’t wanna have to dose the tank and chase ph as we all know.. not good. I should have looked into the aragonite more but I was in information overload mode you know how it is any help would be greatly appreciated, again, awesome videos I have learned so much here! 👊
I know exactly what you mean bro! But yea, the arogonite is designed to raise your PH. It really shouldnt be used with American Cichlids as the prefer a closer to neutral PH (7.0ish) Your best bet for the long term is to replace the substrate without aragonite or crushed coral. btw, I appreciate your support through the membership! I usually get back to you guys much faster but its been a bussy few days lately 😁
@@KaveManAquatics hey man it’s all good we all have lives no worries at all! But I did it! Changed it over last night ph has dropped to about 7.4, win! Only issue I’m thinking about is that I hadn’t completed the nitrogen cycle yet I basically did a 90% water changed before I even saw ammonia(because of the high ph),did the frtizzyme 7 have long enough to have an impact? Or have I just restarted the cycle? I have a bottle of prime and stability ready to dose daily. I added more fish today as well, all 2” - 3” I couldn’t wait anymore and my old man is pushy.. “Kaveman said it’s ok with prime and stability” lmao
Hey Kev, i have a 10 gallon tank and a 2 gallon... Do I need to condition the water with seachem prime and stability for 7 days after each water change?
No thats not how it works. Use prime and stability daily while the tank cycles. Once its cycled then you only need prime during water changes. I highly suggest you check out my playlist for beginners. It'll be very helpful for you 😁 - th-cam.com/play/PLP5OXTIIDO8NYvhUHAmwAd54WFmS4d8er.html
@@KaveManAquatics do I have to let the tank cycle? I've seen your videos were u don't even take the fish out...u just replace the water and add the prime and stability...
Thanks bro, not really, because its not just about your volume of water. It's based on your tanks bio-load as well. How many nitrates are being produced and at what rate. Start with a cup or 2, wait a few days and test, if it didnt raise enough add another cup or 2...so on and so forth 😊
Great question, unfortunately theres no standard answer. because it depends on your individual tank. How high nitrates get making your water acidic will determine how fast minerals are released from the coral. Using it in this way that I used, it could last for years!
Not related to this video but in the ik we can get something called c3 nitrate resin it’s very similar to purigen but it’s recharged with salt water and not bleach if you can get some should try it it’s good stuff we can get purigen a well btw but nitrate resin is better
Im about to make a 75 gall9n peacock tank an my ph is 7.8 out the tap would crushed coral bring it up to what the peacocks need or do i need more than just coral?
@@KaveManAquatics cool thanks! What I simply just test my source water nitrates and if it’s under 7.0 I should be good ? Should I also add wavemakers in the aquarium too? Or do they prefer still waters?
I have African cichlids and I tested my high ph and it came back as 8.8. Idk what to do because I have Live aragonite sand and that should keep it stable so should it get that buffer?
Hey Kev, I got a tigershovelnose and he hasn't eaten for a week any advice for me to get him to eat, I've tried everything, bloodworms,krill,Pellets, prawn and now I'm trying live but I don't want him on live only so any advice for me to get him to eat.
I'm implementing your tip about using Seachem Prime and Seachem Stabilizer. So far it hasn't really worked after 3 days. But I'm hopeful it will work after 7 days (to bring down ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates). Anyway, that's what I'm doing. But now the pH and Alkalinity are low, both out of range for my fish. Will crushed coral not only bring up the pH, but will it also bring up the Alkalinity since both are low? Right now my tank is acidic and I'm worried about the fish. If pH does not raise the Alkalinity, then how do I do that? Thanks!
I have a 125 with about 8 peacock cichlids. Going on week 3 now and nitrates still haven't hit 40ppm. Stuck at around 20. Do you think adding several more cichlids will help increase nitrates? I know you say no water changes until 40ppm so haven't done any yet in past 30 days. Thnx
If you’re at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites go ahead and do a water change. That means your tank has cycled. Nitrates are low which is essentially a good thing. But you will need to add more fish once they begin to get aggressive with each other. And then nitrates will rise faster.
Great video as always. I have a 55 gallon that has 6 baby angelfish. Ph started off fine then began to decrease and for the last week has been 6 yikes! Fish seem to be doing fine. Doing fish in cycle which I have been totally successful at in the past. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all 0 so a high nitrate is not the cause of the low pH. And plants are suffering from lack of nitrogen even after adding easy green and root tabs. Getting very concerned with this tank. Any ideas? Going for crushed coral today I guess.
How do you have 0 nitrates without having any plants? Unless your tank hasnt cycled yet, maybe thats what you meant...If you have real wood in the tank that will reduce your PH. If its not wood, something you have in the tank is causing the reduction, since its not nitrates.
I have actually been having the same trouble with my 55 g that is 4 years old followed every fish pet store recommendation etc nothing worked. It was a Caribsea pebble tank and I finally decided even though I vacuum every week maybe it was the substrate. I fished my fish out lol and put them in a bucket and decided to pull out tHe substrate while I was doing that I decided to give it a good scrub and keep it for use another time🙄. I couldn’t get over how dirty it was. I ended up taking everything out but the bio filter media. Giving the substrate a thorough clean was a real shock I couldn’t get over how dirty it was. I decided to try putting the cleaned substrate back in and trying out the tank(in the last month I purchased 135g used with stand for 800$ came with “working filters” that flooded my livingroom the first night! So having had to purchase fluval x4 all my cichlids and my new sand Caribsea sand for the new tank saving money is a must. Anyway that seems to have done the trick mine was dropping from 7 down to 6.5overnight and if left down to 5.5. It’s been 4 days and my ph is holding steady at 7! I don’t know if this could be your issue but it’s one none of the fish stores suggested it was just my last ditch effort and it worked. I didn’t want to constantly be adding stuff to the tank so super happy and I will be watching regularly to see if I damaged my cycle. So far so good 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates just like before. I’ve been adding stability like it’s a brand new tank which I will continue for first week to be on the safe side
Dear I hv cichlid tank it's ph is 7.8 I want to increase till 8.1 so I checked on net, people said add seashell, do you have any idea will seashell increase ph or not
@@KaveManAquatics sir my tank ph remain 8.1 and fishes were healthy last month I add more fish after after that ph start decrease and now 7.75. I observe my fishes taking fast breath and some time rub their body on stones then I add baking soda and ph increase to 8.0 fishes became better so I try to find permanent solution to increase ph as in my area crushed coral not available so I want to use seashell.
I have a betta fish in a 10 gallon tank, my ph in my tap water is 6.8, and my tank usually stays around 6.6. Recently it drops to 6.0 within 24 hours of doing a water change. I've vacuumed thoroughly, trimmed all my plants, and it is still persisting. My betta is showing signs of stress because the ph is changing so rapidly. Any idea what is causing this? My tank has like 20 plants, and 1 betta, and 3 small nerite snails. Never had this issue before. I dont want to use ph up because I heard its not a good long term solution. Was thinking of adding a small bag of crushed coral to help buffer it...however I am worried it will raise it too much?
As nitrates rise, PH drops. That could be your issue. But with that many plants, it really shouldn't be...A small bag of crushed coral will correct the issue. But start small, be patient, and test PH after 2-3 days for changes. If it doesn't increase enough, or increases too much, adjust the crushed coral amount accordingly.
Hey Kave, I got a 55 gl new fish tank and for 1 week continues every day I put Stability in it probably 7ml. The water became cloudy, I have no idea what to do, please help me.
There is no standard answer. It all depends on your individual tank, its bio-load and how you water change. For that reason is why a natural source like aragonite sand or crushed coral is the better way to go.
Good video but these days with most African and other fish being raised and bred in Florida with basic water. All the wholesalers in New York i go to all have the fish in the same basic tap water. They are so far removed from the natural environments they will do fine
@@KaveManAquatics well they all have own opinions. But i have 3 friends that breed Africans mainly Frontosa and they all do perfectly fine in 6.8 to 7.2 water. Like many people also say aficans should not be kept with south americans which i kinda agree with temperments. Constant PH is whats most important in keeping fish happy along with water changes.
@@KaveManAquatics well its not just breeding. Take blood parrots. The are mainly in south american tanks and love soft water and a PH 6.5 to 7.4. Its not to they will thrive in hard water tanks with PH over 8.
@@healthfoodsguy Yes that is true of blood parrots. That’s why I have 1 with my Africans. Also his temperament has grown to match theirs. But blood parrots and what they can thrive in is not what African Cichlids thrive in. Can we agree to disagree already man? Keep your Africans in whatever you want, I’ve already explained why I keep mine in hard water with high PH. You don’t agree, it’s ok. Do you! Follow your buddies and I’ll do what master breeders with 40+ years of experience that study these fish do. All I can do is share what I’ve learned here, if you don’t want to take my advice, don’t! 🤷🏼♂️
It only feels that way bro. I put out long form content once a week, just like I always have. I’ve increased the content by adding shorts. Haven’t reduced anything.
I was too distracted with the captions, the mouse clicks, the apple ding, the waves, and the wave sounds, the bubble pop sounds- too much distraction and steals from the knowledge 🧠.
I have a fairly newly set up African 🦚 tank My kh is like a 1000 How high is To high? And I am guessing water changes are the only way to lower it? Thanks :)
🐟 Want to learn more about African Cichlids? Start here for FREE!
event.webinarjam.com/channel/KaveMan-Aquatics
What a great video on pH! Very entertaining AND informative. Thanks!
My pleasure! Glad you're finding the channel helpful. 😊
BTW, you should check out my new Aquarium Keeping APP designed for beginners! - aquabuildr.com
Thank you so much for all this information. I have had my goldfish and koi for about 5 years and I had moved to a new apartment and upgraded the tank to give them more room. All of a sudden my ph has been really low and I just noticed that some of my goldfish are losing color and scales so I checked my levels and again my ph is to low. Now I know why . I didn't put the sub in the bottom like I had in the old tank. This new tank is about 7 months old. Now I am running to the store and get there sub now . Thank you again saving our swimming Angels.
To be honest this channels deserved to have millions of subscribers because this channel is so helpful and easy to understand, I have subscribe this channel for weeks now,nice work bro!!😊
Thank you so much bro! Hopefully one day I can get there! Glad you're finding the channel helpful! 😁💪
As an extra idea, for those of us without 3d backgrounds to dump things behind, I put mine in larger media bags and use it for a base for my rocks to sit on. This gets the rocks off the glass (like egg crates) and also allows for me to still cover it 100% with sand. Then, when I need to replace it in a year or so, just grab the bag during a water change and replace. Always hidden.
Pretty good idea!
I luckily live in a hard water area. Its perfect for African cichlids. Im about to order my 55g tank. You have been a big inspiration Kev. Big love!
Thats the best! When you dont have to worry about it! Glad I could be helpful bro! 😊
Recently decided to start a 75g african cichlid tank your videos are very helpful
That’s awesome! Glad the channel has been helpful for you!
I took your bag of crushed coral method hide behind decor and it’s worked awesome for me ..change to new bag of coral months later when needed ..✌🏻
Another great video. Straight to the point and informative.
Thank you brother Mathew!! Hope to see you at next Live stream 😊😊
Thanks KaveMan for another great video, you make keeping my African cichlids easy! You da Man!
My pleasure! Glad you're finding the channel helpful 😁
Great video Kev!!! Fish looking good big bro!!!!!👍🏾💪🏾
Thank you my bro!! 😁
How often do you need to clean or replace the filter pads?
I can’t get my axolotl tank to hit the brown level of the high range ph (7.4)😵💫. I added sand to it and didn’t know that would change the water high range ph. Everything else is just were it needs to be. Except for that one thing help!!! Also the people at pets mart told me to do the brown leaves so I bought a box it’s been in the tank for two days and nothing yet
How do you know how much Coral to add? My pH is out of the tap under 6.4 ...6.6 and I like it to be mid 7s.... a 5 gallon tank for some mystery snails....
I need to raise the PH level in my convict cichlid tank. I have the same gravel that you show in you first video for beginners. Can I get some crushed coral and just cover over the gravel?
Absolutely! 😁
I have a question I have a guppie tank .and I'm about to add almond leaves.will the coral balance the ph out.since almond drop ph ?
What about lowering ph level my water change doesn't do it and I tried easy balance that stuff doesn't work..help Kev thanks God bless
If you have high PH from the tap you can add driftwood to the tank which will lower your PH. Seachem Acid buffer can help too.
Hey kaveman need ur help . I have a 10 gallon fish tank with 4 fish 1 a corycatfish and the other are 3 small colourful tetras. The problem is when i about to feed sinking pellets for the cory the tetras will always eat them and leave nothing for the cory . Hope You can help.
Spread the food out, from one side to the other...or try feeding some at night. Pleco wafers may help too, they last longer and cory cat can get some.
C02 scrubber helps too, carbonic acid is the problem. We breath out c02 and it reacts with water. Only problem is, the media depletes and has to be changed. I just use a skimmer and the air line is ran outside to take fresh air in and get it into the water column. It helps a bit but nothing is better than an open window or door. Of course very good waterflow and surface agitation is key. I have 4 powerheads and 2 gyres to keep things moving. Dosing Kalkwasser is another route but i have not started using it yet. Gonna have to learn more on that.
Thats great info!
I love your videos! Super helpful! Thank you so much! 💙
My pleasure! Glad you're finding the channel helpful 😁
For these products...i have seachem alkaline buffer...If i follow the reccomended dose it will work?One last question how long does it take for the victoria buffer to work ?
i have been struggling with low alkaline and ph. I wonder what is going on since this is the first time it drops even thought I have not changed any of my routines. I will try the crushed coral method and hopefully that helps me. I have been using API Ph up but it only lasts a day and I worry it will stress my fish.
Crushed coral or Aragonite sand is the way to go. PH drops with time as your nitrates increase. This video will be helpful as well - th-cam.com/video/4F6zhccDam4/w-d-xo.html
@@KaveManAquatics thank you so much.
Really enjoy watching your videos, The only question that I have is How do you know how much to add. For example how much would you put in a 50 g tank?
You have to add in batches. It can take days for PH to adjust so adding a cup or 2 at a time and testing in between is best.
@@KaveManAquatics Thank you for the help, just like you I don't want my fish to survive I want them to thrive.
What about mussel shells can that increase the ph.
Sorry crushed mybe even powdered shells.
I need 8.025 to 8.1 on the ph.
Saltwater tanks am I right 😅.
Ps I work at a restaurant that throws out thousands of mussel and clam shells every day so a few hundred pounds in just shells every day.
Sorry, I'm not really sure...If you try it and it does let me know 😊
my tds used to be 150 now its 900 after a water change (i have arowana, discus, pacu, maru) so is it suitable if not how to reduce the tds? will this affect the fish?
Reside in a very developing area but unfortunately the water supply is from Borewell pumped out. So i presume Borewell is hard water with both Gh and Kh sufficiency..so PH is high. Right?. Very bad for discus keeping. 😁
How do you calculate how much a given quality of coral will raise pH, and how quickly? I'm interested in the method, but worried about raising levels too quickly and too high- i wouldn't want it hight than 7.6 for my needs.
Its really tough to do. Its a patience game. Start with less than you think you'll need. Wait a few days and test and then add more as needed.
First off again I really enjoy your channel I just bought a 90 corner tank and I'm excited to start it up but I'm waiting to do research and do it the right way, I spent literally hours watching your videos, my question is if I am about to start the cycle can I put API BIO CHEM ZORB AND ALGONE WATER CLARIFIER AND NITRATE REMOVER in my canister. Or will that prevent a good cycle, I already bought the prime and stability for the cycle( i used your links😉) should I also add the chiclid salt ?
So I have crushed coral in my filter and seiryu stone in my tank to help with the PH. The PH in my tank was about 7.4-7.6 straight out of the tap and after I added the coral to my filter and the seiryu stones in my tank my PH is sitting right at 8.0. Would you recommend using Malawi buffer when I do a water change to bump the PH back up so there aren’t any PH swings? Or just let the stones and crushed coral raise the PH back up on their own. I haven’t done a water change since I added the coral and stones. Or will adding the Malawi buffer on top of the coral and seiryu stones cause my PH to go over 8.0.
Hello , how much crush coral do i need for a 125 gallon tank?
Hey there! So ive had a tank running for 4 years. ive always had low KH (20ppm) and a PH of about 6.7ppm my water is naturally pretty hard (75ppm). Fish are fine, but im having trouble with a 5 gallon tank. Its KH is 0 PH 6.5 and GH 75. I want to raise the KH in this tank, but also gradually in the others as well. I wanted to do crushed coral, but it raises hardness as well and im already at pretty hard water. Suggestions? Or should i use coral and a water softner? I want to come up with a solution that promotes stability rather than using chemicals every water change. What do you guys think?
Awesome video, I love the fake rock idea! how do you know how much crushed coral to add? Is there a specific brand you recommend? I keep fancy gold fish. My ph is around 6-6.5 and I wanted to get it up to at least 7.5. I have a 70 gallon tank with about 6 fish. Any advice is appreciated. :)
Someone on a forum said that my 6.5 ph level was too low. My ph is stable. Any thoughts? Should I try to change it? Thanks
Hey kev! Love your channel! I’m about a year into the hobby and I currently have an adult angel and some silver tipped tetras! I will be upgrading my 37 gallon tank to a 55 gallon soon but my current tanks ph came out as 7.8 and my tap waters ph came back as 8.2. I’m wondering if this is high? Also I just bought some Flourite black substrate and I’m wondering if this will affect this ph, or will catfish such as synodontis thrive in a ph of 7.8-8.0? Thanks!
Hey man, how much crushed coral should I use per gallon. For example how much In a 40 gallon thanks
Hey kev I looked on aquadecors site do you know what model rocks those are I’d like to get a few and hide my bag of coral under them!
Unfortunately I dont because they came together with my background purchase. They are very good at responding to email inqueries, im sure if you sent them a screen shot of my rocks they could easily identify them for you. 😊 Dont forget my code to get a 10% discount! - Kaveman10
What are your thoughts on using crushed oyster shells? I love the hollow rocks! Got to get 1 or 2 😁
I believe those will also do great in raising your PH, but not 100% You can find the rocks here - aquadecorbackgrounds.com Tell them KaveMan sent you, lol Also use code Kaveman10 at checkout for a 10% discount 😊
Have a 60gal tank african cichlids did a 50% water change tested the water for nitrate, nitrite, ph all that good stuff and my nitrate levels are through the roof been adding prime and stability to lower the nitrate levels but they have stayed the same and im getting worried cause high levels of nitrate are very bad if you have any advice as to what i could do that would help alot
Hi thanks for your information.Im setting a new tank (185gallons).Finally next Saturday I will fill the tank with water.For PH I bought the Malawi / Victoria Buffer.So my question is..Do you suggest or should I use the crushed coral aswell and If I put it in the filter how long it will last till I have to replaced it ? I have fx6 series fluval filter.
Yes, using the crushed coral will be more beneficial so you dont need to use as much malawi buffer. How long it last depends on everything else in your tank...just keep checking PH weekly until you start to see a drop then you know your crushed coral is beginning to deplete.
@@KaveManAquatics Thanks alot 😊 Thanks to your videos im feeling more at ease. Im trying to apply all the knowledge that very kindly you are giving to us.👍👍👍 Thanks again.
Do you add buffer or lake salt if you have aragonite sand ?
Thanks Kev!
My pleasure!
When using crushed coral. Do you still use Malawi buffer when you do water changes? Since the water coming from the tap is a lower PH than the water that’s in the tank?
Its possible you may not need the malawi buffer at all when using crushed coral. But you'll need to test your water and see where the coral raises your PH to.
You may not need the malawi buffer at all. You'll need to test the water and see where the crushed coral raises your PH to.
Before I added any crushed and seiryu stone to my tank the PH was about 7.6-7.8. After I added them it raised it to about 8.0-8.2
can you use sand intead of crushed corals??
Hi Kave. I need your help please!! Don't know what to do. My cichlids are swimming on the top gasping for oxygen. Water test, Amm-0, Nitrate-40, Nitrite-0,Hardness-25(very soft),Chlorine-0,Alkalinity-180,PH-7.8,Temp-82. Thx in advance. Did 25% water change...
I have a bag of crushed coral next to my FX6 filter intake inside the tank My ph has gone up to 8.2 . Is that acceptable for mbunas ?
Yes, absolutely! 💪
Hey kev i have a quick question i have a 35 gallon aquarium with angelfish in it an its been about a week an half an im showing no amonia around 3.0 or 5.0 nitrite an 20 ppm nitrate should i just go with it or do a lil water change because the nitrite being to high?
I am doing the prime an stability fish in cycle
No water change bro! Leave that nitrite in the tank to continue growing bacteria....wait until you reach about 40 PPM of NITRATE then do a water change! You're almost there bro
Hey man love your videos, just starting into the hobby with a 125 south/central American tank, ph out of my tap is 7.3 give or take I’ve had my tank running a week now used Seachem prime let it run a couple days used fritzzyme 7 and added 4 silver dollars. Initial ph was around 7.4 last night it was 7.9 and now it’s 8.4. I’m using carabsea aragonite I think it’s crushed gravel is that my issue? Helpppppp lol!!! I really don’t wanna have to dose the tank and chase ph as we all know.. not good. I should have looked into the aragonite more but I was in information overload mode you know how it is any help would be greatly appreciated, again, awesome videos I have learned so much here! 👊
I know exactly what you mean bro! But yea, the arogonite is designed to raise your PH. It really shouldnt be used with American Cichlids as the prefer a closer to neutral PH (7.0ish) Your best bet for the long term is to replace the substrate without aragonite or crushed coral.
btw, I appreciate your support through the membership! I usually get back to you guys much faster but its been a bussy few days lately 😁
@@KaveManAquatics hey man it’s all good we all have lives no worries at all! But I did it! Changed it over last night ph has dropped to about 7.4, win! Only issue I’m thinking about is that I hadn’t completed the nitrogen cycle yet I basically did a 90% water changed before I even saw ammonia(because of the high ph),did the frtizzyme 7 have long enough to have an impact? Or have I just restarted the cycle? I have a bottle of prime and stability ready to dose daily. I added more fish today as well, all 2” - 3” I couldn’t wait anymore and my old man is pushy.. “Kaveman said it’s ok with prime and stability” lmao
Does it have to be crushed? Can i just put whole coral that i got from the beach in the tank after cleaning it?
Hey Kev, i have a 10 gallon tank and a 2 gallon... Do I need to condition the water with seachem prime and stability for 7 days after each water change?
No thats not how it works. Use prime and stability daily while the tank cycles. Once its cycled then you only need prime during water changes. I highly suggest you check out my playlist for beginners. It'll be very helpful for you 😁 - th-cam.com/play/PLP5OXTIIDO8NYvhUHAmwAd54WFmS4d8er.html
@@KaveManAquatics do I have to let the tank cycle? I've seen your videos were u don't even take the fish out...u just replace the water and add the prime and stability...
Great video! Is there a formula you follow for the amount of crushed coral to add per gallon of water?
Thanks bro, not really, because its not just about your volume of water. It's based on your tanks bio-load as well. How many nitrates are being produced and at what rate. Start with a cup or 2, wait a few days and test, if it didnt raise enough add another cup or 2...so on and so forth 😊
This is a great question! Should have included that in the video! 🤦♂️
@@KaveManAquatics all good brother. Thanks for answering my question. I learned a lot about this hobby from your videos!
@@tonyr5601 Glad to hear it!! 😁💪
I've had my aragonite sand for around 2 years now in my mbuna tank. The ph seems to stay around 8.2 should I look into replacing it soon?
If your staying stable at that high PH, you have nothing to worry about. 😁👍
About how long will the crush coral last before you have to replace the bag
Great question, unfortunately theres no standard answer. because it depends on your individual tank. How high nitrates get making your water acidic will determine how fast minerals are released from the coral. Using it in this way that I used, it could last for years!
Help full video ❤️
Also, Can you raise KH to fast? In other words can i harm the fish?
How much crush coral to add for 125 gallon
Not related to this video but in the ik we can get something called c3 nitrate resin it’s very similar to purigen but it’s recharged with salt water and not bleach if you can get some should try it it’s good stuff we can get purigen a well btw but nitrate resin is better
Im about to make a 75 gall9n peacock tank an my ph is 7.8 out the tap would crushed coral bring it up to what the peacocks need or do i need more than just coral?
At 7.8, you're golden. Don't even mess with it. They will love it! 😊
@@KaveManAquatics thanks kev 👊
Do you have to chase down PH with American cichlids? Thinking about doing a SA tank
I don’t because my source water is close to neutral, about 7.0. If your source water has high PH adding real wood will help to lower it. 😁
@@KaveManAquatics cool thanks! What I simply just test my source water nitrates and if it’s under 7.0 I should be good ? Should I also add wavemakers in the aquarium too? Or do they prefer still waters?
But will the crushed coral bring the ph past what it has to be?
I have African cichlids and I tested my high ph and it came back as 8.8. Idk what to do because I have Live aragonite sand and that should keep it stable so should it get that buffer?
Hey Kev, I got a tigershovelnose and he hasn't eaten for a week any advice for me to get him to eat, I've tried everything, bloodworms,krill,Pellets, prawn and now I'm trying live but I don't want him on live only so any advice for me to get him to eat.
He may have internal parasites. Loss of appetite is the number one sign. Watch this - th-cam.com/video/bSpBUlN-8jI/w-d-xo.html
I'm implementing your tip about using Seachem Prime and Seachem Stabilizer. So far it hasn't really worked after 3 days. But I'm hopeful it will work after 7 days (to bring down ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates). Anyway, that's what I'm doing. But now the pH and Alkalinity are low, both out of range for my fish. Will crushed coral not only bring up the pH, but will it also bring up the Alkalinity since both are low? Right now my tank is acidic and I'm worried about the fish. If pH does not raise the Alkalinity, then how do I do that? Thanks!
Yes crushed coral will raise both. 3 days is not long enough. Be patient and continue dosing prime and Stability daily until the tank cycles.
@@KaveManAquatics Thank you!
Can you still do this with a freshwater aquarium?
This tank is a freshwater tank...so yes 😁
I have a 125 with about 8 peacock cichlids. Going on week 3 now and nitrates still haven't hit 40ppm. Stuck at around 20. Do you think adding several more cichlids will help increase nitrates? I know you say no water changes until 40ppm so haven't done any yet in past 30 days. Thnx
If you’re at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites go ahead and do a water change. That means your tank has cycled. Nitrates are low which is essentially a good thing. But you will need to add more fish once they begin to get aggressive with each other. And then nitrates will rise faster.
@@KaveManAquatics okay gotcha. They are aggressive got sure. Had to remove one already. Thnx bro
I tube says Indian almond leaves just put them in there as is?
About time you listen!
I fall for your peer pressure all the time 🤣
@@KaveManAquatics is it peer pressure when it's sound advise?
I did not know its nitrates that cause (or a main cause) of acidity and impact ph.
Yes sirrrr...nitrates make your water acidic and drop your PH! 😊 Which is why whatever you're using to keep PH high depletes with time.
Should I add crush coral skeleton if PH is low ? Is it same as crush coral ?
Yes, that will help increase your PH
@@KaveManAquatics thanks 🙏
Great video as always. I have a 55 gallon that has 6 baby angelfish. Ph started off fine then began to decrease and for the last week has been 6 yikes! Fish seem to be doing fine. Doing fish in cycle which I have been totally successful at in the past. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all 0 so a high nitrate is not the cause of the low pH. And plants are suffering from lack of nitrogen even after adding easy green and root tabs. Getting very concerned with this tank. Any ideas? Going for crushed coral today I guess.
How do you have 0 nitrates without having any plants? Unless your tank hasnt cycled yet, maybe thats what you meant...If you have real wood in the tank that will reduce your PH. If its not wood, something you have in the tank is causing the reduction, since its not nitrates.
I have actually been having the same trouble with my 55 g that is 4 years old followed every fish pet store recommendation etc nothing worked. It was a Caribsea pebble tank and I finally decided even though I vacuum every week maybe it was the substrate. I fished my fish out lol and put them in a bucket and decided to pull out tHe substrate while I was doing that I decided to give it a good scrub and keep it for use another time🙄. I couldn’t get over how dirty it was. I ended up taking everything out but the bio filter media. Giving the substrate a thorough clean was a real shock I couldn’t get over how dirty it was. I decided to try putting the cleaned substrate back in and trying out the tank(in the last month I purchased 135g used with stand for 800$ came with “working filters” that flooded my livingroom the first night! So having had to purchase fluval x4 all my cichlids and my new sand Caribsea sand for the new tank saving money is a must. Anyway that seems to have done the trick mine was dropping from 7 down to 6.5overnight and if left down to 5.5. It’s been 4 days and my ph is holding steady at 7! I don’t know if this could be your issue but it’s one none of the fish stores suggested it was just my last ditch effort and it worked. I didn’t want to constantly be adding stuff to the tank so super happy and I will be watching regularly to see if I damaged my cycle. So far so good 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates just like before. I’ve been adding stability like it’s a brand new tank which I will continue for first week to be on the safe side
Dear I hv cichlid tank it's ph is 7.8 I want to increase till 8.1 so I checked on net, people said add seashell, do you have any idea will seashell increase ph or not
If your PH is at 7.8 best thing to do is to leave it alone. A steady stable PH is always best and 7.8 is perfect for your cichlids.
@@KaveManAquatics sir my tank ph remain 8.1 and fishes were healthy last month I add more fish after after that ph start decrease and now 7.75. I observe my fishes taking fast breath and some time rub their body on stones then I add baking soda and ph increase to 8.0 fishes became better so I try to find permanent solution to increase ph as in my area crushed coral not available so I want to use seashell.
Yo Kev!…I just switched over to Aragonite Sand …do I still
Need to add crushed coral as well or is that overkill?
Negative Sir, the aragonite sand does exactly the same as the crushed coral 😁
@@KaveManAquatics thanks Kev! 👍🏻
I wonder how aragonite would do in a fluidized sand filter?
Great question! Let me know if you try it...
Can i put crushed coral inside a betta tank?
Yes, but crushed coral will raise your PH. Where is your PH level at now?
I have a betta fish in a 10 gallon tank, my ph in my tap water is 6.8, and my tank usually stays around 6.6. Recently it drops to 6.0 within 24 hours of doing a water change. I've vacuumed thoroughly, trimmed all my plants, and it is still persisting. My betta is showing signs of stress because the ph is changing so rapidly. Any idea what is causing this? My tank has like 20 plants, and 1 betta, and 3 small nerite snails. Never had this issue before. I dont want to use ph up because I heard its not a good long term solution. Was thinking of adding a small bag of crushed coral to help buffer it...however I am worried it will raise it too much?
As nitrates rise, PH drops. That could be your issue. But with that many plants, it really shouldn't be...A small bag of crushed coral will correct the issue. But start small, be patient, and test PH after 2-3 days for changes. If it doesn't increase enough, or increases too much, adjust the crushed coral amount accordingly.
Hey Kave, I got a 55 gl new fish tank and for 1 week continues every day I put Stability in it probably 7ml. The water became cloudy, I have no idea what to do, please help me.
Cloudy water is normal in a new tank, watch this - th-cam.com/video/46fcHvoellI/w-d-xo.html
Perfect brother. I will hide behind my background. That’s way no trouble opening fxs.
Exactly!! 😊💪
Where do your backgrounds come from?
All my backgrounds are from aquadecorbackgrounds.com Tell them KaveMan sent you, lol Also use code Kaveman10 at checkout for a 10% discount 😊
i tested my tap water ph and it is at 7.8 so kinda blessed here
Nice! Perfect for African Cichlids 😊
I need to bring my Ph down, water comes out of my tap at around 8 I need it around 6.5 to 7 in some of my tanks
Add wood! or an RODI system
Thanks greatvideo
Glad you enjoyed it
You should do a video on how to add buffer to your water to raise ph slowly I have you raise my kh otherwise my ph crashes
The video linked at the end of this one goes more into raising your PH with buffers 😊 - th-cam.com/video/4F6zhccDam4/w-d-xo.html
@@KaveManAquatics like I mean when to add it and how slowly to to avoid sudden raise to avoid shocking them I use powder buffers
There is no standard answer. It all depends on your individual tank, its bio-load and how you water change. For that reason is why a natural source like aragonite sand or crushed coral is the better way to go.
@@KaveManAquatics been told coral won’t give steady readings
Where can i buy gorgeous quality cichlids at very affordable prices "online", in locatedbin Mauritius!
And thanks buddy, like your video!
Checkout my shop under the "fish" tab 😊 - koji.to/kaveman_aquatics
Bro r u mix wit african and Dominican?
lol, 100% Dominican 😊
I dont want my fish to survive i want them to thrive.
😁💪
LET'S GOOOOOO!
😁😁💪💪
Sorry but ment in the uk not ik that’s auto correct
Recently just switched my tank from saltwater to freshwater after 4 years… just didn’t have the time for the care of the saltwater hobby
If you keep Africans you'll still get to have some beautiful fish! 😊
Good video but these days with most African and other fish being raised and bred in Florida with basic water. All the wholesalers in New York i go to all have the fish in the same basic tap water. They are so far removed from the natural environments they will do fine
I disagree, and so do many other master breeders. Their PH matters a ton for life longevity and health. But they’ll survive in whatever…so 🤷🏼♂️
@@KaveManAquatics well they all have own opinions. But i have 3 friends that breed Africans mainly Frontosa and they all do perfectly fine in 6.8 to 7.2 water. Like many people also say aficans should not be kept with south americans which i kinda agree with temperments. Constant PH is whats most important in keeping fish happy along with water changes.
@@healthfoodsguy Anyone can breed fish. Again, I respectfully disagree.
@@KaveManAquatics well its not just breeding. Take blood parrots. The are mainly in south american tanks and love soft water and a PH 6.5 to 7.4. Its not to they will thrive in hard water tanks with PH over 8.
@@healthfoodsguy Yes that is true of blood parrots. That’s why I have 1 with my Africans. Also his temperament has grown to match theirs. But blood parrots and what they can thrive in is not what African Cichlids thrive in. Can we agree to disagree already man? Keep your Africans in whatever you want, I’ve already explained why I keep mine in hard water with high PH. You don’t agree, it’s ok. Do you! Follow your buddies and I’ll do what master breeders with 40+ years of experience that study these fish do. All I can do is share what I’ve learned here, if you don’t want to take my advice, don’t! 🤷🏼♂️
Re>play crew. 22-dec-2023, 💪😎LJ
2 weeks in 10lb bag in sump.. 0 results
If you dont get results after 2-3 days, add more crushed coral.
✌
Bro i miss your longer videos. I really dont like all the shorts. Feels like you just ran out of content
It only feels that way bro. I put out long form content once a week, just like I always have. I’ve increased the content by adding shorts. Haven’t reduced anything.
First one again!!!
lol, Congrats bro!! 😊💪
I was too distracted with the captions, the mouse clicks, the apple ding, the waves, and the wave sounds, the bubble pop sounds- too much distraction and steals from the knowledge 🧠.
I have a fairly newly set up African 🦚 tank
My kh is like a 1000
How high is To high?
And I am guessing water changes are the only way to lower it?
Thanks :)
Focus on your PH and KH will follow. 7.6 to 8.4 is ideal
@@KaveManAquatics thanks
PH is holding steady at 8.1 👍