pH too low

My pH is at 7.6. Everything else is where it should be: ammonia & nitrites @ zero; nitrates @ 5; calcium @ 440; phosphate @ 0; Kh @ 10, and performing regular water changes. Is there something else I can do before I add a buffer?

 

try a new test kit?

 

The one I use now is API. What would you suggest? Thanks.

 

i use the api as well i was just throwing it out there. from my understanding (which is small) with the calcium level up at 440 you shouldn't have a ph problem. maybe a new api kit, i have heard of the test kits expireing

 

I'm stumped. I also just posted a Q re my LR - larges patches of it are turning white. Could there be a relationship?

 

Dose with kalkwasser! It has a pH of 12!

 

Linda forget about the P.H what is the carbonate and or DKH level of the water These one in the same just different ways to measurer their presences I would also look the the Calcium levels . The main reason your P.H is low is the carbonates are exhausted and the rocks Coraline need the carbonates as well as Ca. and Magnesium all 3 are tightly related in how they work. But testing for P.H is a waste of time and money P.H can be perfect and the carbonates are zilch.
Ooop]s my bad I should have paid attention to what I was reading .. with the Carbonate and Ca levels you are at and a P.H that low what time of day are you testing the P.H Also you have a full hood on this tank or maybe even glass top covers ? Take some water from the aquarium and put it in a glass then add air stone and aerate the water for a few hrs and see what the P.H is then.. Maybe a C.O's build up and that could be from glass tops fitting to tightly and or lack of fans to blow the CO2's off the waters surface and allow oxygen exchange or it could be a CO'2 issue with in the house ? smoking or lack of fresh air Even a faulty vent on a Gas water heater or clothes dryer, Thats what I found on a similar problem in N.J on a friends setup. his water heater was the demon..

 

I always test in the evenings. I have a Nano that has a tight fitting cover, but it has two fans that run (when the lights are on). Water heater an clothes dryer are in the garage. I'll try what you suggest tonight and let you know results tomorrow.

Thank you very much!

 

If you are saying the main tank has two fans that run with the light on you may want to run one all the time CO'2 peak at night and to fresh air across the surface will help your tank out at night..

 

ask your lps to check phos too

HI,
My coraline was looking pretty nice and died off suddenly I noticed I had a slight increase in phos and a low kh.
Low ph is the end result of low carbonate in solution in the water or KH, so KH is your friend but needs to be moved up rather slowly cause fish fish and inverts can't take fast changes even if its in the right direction they need time to adjust their systems.
Doug