Question: Tank levels crashed, what to do?

[toothless44]

We recently had a power outage for five hours, and my tank was left Stillwater for that time, and the temp went up 76F! I was at work or I would have tackled the problem sooner. Toothless's tank is back down to 70F but my levels have all turned to disaster!! Any ideas on how to fix this???
PH: 7.6!!!!
Ammonia: .25
NO2: 5.0
NO3: about 40ppm


Terrible! Help!

 

[carsona246]

Do waterchanges until the no2 is below 3. Is the ph usually not 7.6? A ph of 7.6 isn't anything to worry about, its fluctuations in ph that are something to worry about. At least your tank still has the majority of the cycle, the parameters don't seem that bad

 

[toothless44]

Do waterchanges until the no2 is below 3. Is the ph usually not 7.6? A ph of 7.6 isn't anything to worry about, its fluctuations in ph that are something to worry about. At least your tank still has the majority of the cycle, the parameters don't seem that bad

My tank ph is usually about 7.2 but the care sheet I was given when I was gifted toothless suggests a ph from 6.2-6.9 and ammonia and NO2 at 0... My NO2 usually hangs around 2... so it was kind of a big swing. I called a store that the care sheet came from and they stood behind thier caresheet and told me I need to use bottles of spring water instead of tap because my tap ph is at 7.2, which according to them is dangerous...

Was I given false info?

 

[carsona246]

nitrite should always be 0. You may need a bigger filter, or a bigger tank if your nitrite is typically at 2, Depending on how large/small your tank is. Don't worry about your ph, it's stability that matters, not the actual level. A ph of 8(or 6) won't hurt anything. Do not use chemicals to change your ph, and I suggest you keep using tap water like you have been.

 

[blackdog]

Would a cycle crash after just 5 hours? hmmmm, i dunno.

i once buggered up and left the filter off for a week - duh - the water in the filter stank, and i had a bit of cleaning up to do, but my cycle still didn't crash.

As previous advice, 7.6 ph is fine, stable ph is more important than hi or low.

Would still water vs tap water change ph? I don't know for sure, but still vs tap would probably be more to do with minerals and therefore hardness of water than acidity? Am i off track?

Anyway, it sounds to me like your LFS know less about axies than the good folks here (dont worry, this is not unusual) so don't panic.

Leave the ph alone. Monitor your tank reading and cycle over the next short period of time. I odnt think you have a major crash here, a mini crash at worst. This is easily managed if you just do daily water changes (or as required) to keep the ammonia below .25, the nitrites low, and the nitrates below 40.

Your cycle will kick in again, the fact you have nitrites and nitrate reading means you still have a cycle going on, it's just not stable.

Bren

 

[hdonahue]

I called a store that the care sheet came from and they stood behind thier caresheet and told me I need to use bottles of spring water instead of tap because my tap ph is at 7.2, which according to them is dangerous...

Was I given false info?

7.2 is wonderdful!! 7.0 is pure water and ideal for most fish and most aquatic animals.
I do know that some fish like high range pH, so the info they gave you might be correct but I would need to look at research articles to double check.

I also agree as long as your between a 6.5 and 8 pH that does not fluxuate you are fine. I also agree do not use pH up or down, along with any other chemicals besides your dechlorinator.

Your tank should be fine just check the levels and read the cycling article if you need some reference for when your tank has recycled.