HTL1
New member
We have a completely cycled tank which has nitrates around 20 to 40 PPM less than .25 ammonia at any given time and low to no nitrites at any given time.
The tank has been cycled for about 4 weeks and is holding steady. The pH was steady during the cycling time and up until today or yesterday at 6.6 to 6.8 .
The pH of the water that we do exchange with is tested prior to doing exchanges and last it was at 7.0 . We have used Seachem prime and stability with no issues and the pH has always held steady at 6.8. Today I tested the pH of the tank along with everything else and it was down to 6.4 looking like it might just be above 6.0.
I know that's not critical but I have a couple questions so that I can get on top of it. I am wondering if this is due to lack of oxygen, we have a 30 gallon adjustable flow external filter on a 20L tank, no air Stone running regularly.
First question :
If I were to remediate the pH would that actually assist the water oxygenation or just put a Band-Aid on it? To keep nitrates at a decent level, water changes are being done approximately 25% once a week now with the seachem additives for cycle & chlorine .
Second Question:
( I saw a 5-year-old post about Kh and GH using aquarium salts and questionable bicarbonate of soda, that's old school aquarium adjustments) wondering if that is still recommended or if there's a better solution for axolotls.
Just an aside, I found it interesting that this girl boosted the ammonia in the 5 gal. tubbing tanks on a DAILY basis from 0 to between 0.50 and one part per million while we were cycling. Fascinating animals
The tank has been cycled for about 4 weeks and is holding steady. The pH was steady during the cycling time and up until today or yesterday at 6.6 to 6.8 .
The pH of the water that we do exchange with is tested prior to doing exchanges and last it was at 7.0 . We have used Seachem prime and stability with no issues and the pH has always held steady at 6.8. Today I tested the pH of the tank along with everything else and it was down to 6.4 looking like it might just be above 6.0.
I know that's not critical but I have a couple questions so that I can get on top of it. I am wondering if this is due to lack of oxygen, we have a 30 gallon adjustable flow external filter on a 20L tank, no air Stone running regularly.
First question :
If I were to remediate the pH would that actually assist the water oxygenation or just put a Band-Aid on it? To keep nitrates at a decent level, water changes are being done approximately 25% once a week now with the seachem additives for cycle & chlorine .
Second Question:
( I saw a 5-year-old post about Kh and GH using aquarium salts and questionable bicarbonate of soda, that's old school aquarium adjustments) wondering if that is still recommended or if there's a better solution for axolotls.
Just an aside, I found it interesting that this girl boosted the ammonia in the 5 gal. tubbing tanks on a DAILY basis from 0 to between 0.50 and one part per million while we were cycling. Fascinating animals
