Need alternative for crushed corals

[batang_mcdo]

Need advise, one of my arowana tanks ph seems to crash and get very low.
Good thing i added a red mammon, he seems to be the indicator for my tanks water probelm.

Our tapwater is 7.5. , my tank is 5x2x2 with eheim 2250 canister filled with mr aqua ceramic rings and bio home sintered glass.
Also have a oceanfree hydra 50.

Tank inhabitants are 20 inch xback arowana, 7 inch datnoid and a 5 inch red mammon.

I just removed the crushed corals from my filter a week ago as my arowana seems to develop some problem with his tail and i noticed its because ofmthe crushed corals.

But now i noticed my waters ph in tank has dropped to about 5 in less than a week after water changing 30% last time.
I noticed theres a problem when my red mammon gets lethargic, i tested mynwater and it was now too acidic.

I did a 40 % water change and added seachem safe as dechlorinator and a teaspoon of baling soda.

Any suggestion on what is a good alternative for crushed corals to keep my ph stable?

 

[Al Czervik]

Need advise, one of my arowana tanks ph seems to crash and get very low.
Good thing i added a red mammon, he seems to be the indicator for my tanks water probelm.

Our tapwater is 7.5. , my tank is 5x2x2 with eheim 2250 canister filled with mr aqua ceramic rings and bio home sintered glass.
Also have a oceanfree hydra 50.

Tank inhabitants are 20 inch xback arowana, 7 inch datnoid and a 5 inch red mammon.

I just removed the crushed corals from my filter a week ago as my arowana seems to develop some problem with his tail and i noticed its because ofmthe crushed corals.

But now i noticed my waters ph in tank has dropped to about 5 in less than a week after water changing 30% last time.
I noticed theres a problem when my red mammon gets lethargic, i tested mynwater and it was now too acidic.

I did a 40 % water change and added seachem safe as dechlorinator and a teaspoon of baling soda.

Any suggestion on what is a good alternative for crushed corals to keep my ph stable?

What problem is the fish having with its tail and why do you think the crushed coral is the cause?

 

[duanes]

How often do you do water changes, and how often do you clean the gunk from the canister. Acidification occurs when the tank is overwhelmed with fish urine.
If your tap pH is 7.5, but the tank pH drops to 5, it means your bioload is too high for the amount and frequency of water changes you are doing, for the size tank you have.
And the bioload (fish urine) is too much for the filter to handle, or the biomedia is so covered in biofilm, that the gunk prevents the BB from doing their job.
It also sounds like the alkalinity of your tap water may be low, and doesn't have the capacity to buffer the amount of fish urine produced, because the crushed coral had provided that extra buffering between your previous scheduled water changes.

 

[batang_mcdo]

I do weekly 30% water changes, but I've had to do 2 water changes this week alone due to the ph crashing. I've had problems with this tank since before where i needed to have crushed corals to help maintain the ph. i've had problem with my arowana's tail for a few years now. and it gets better when i remove the crushed corals, problem is the ph keeps dropping really low.

I have a prefilter sponge on the intake of the canister so the the inside of the canister is quite clean.
it was 2-3 weeks ago that i last cleaned my canister, the inside was still quite clean, but i cleaned it to remove the crushed corals. not sure what is wrong with this tank of mine.

here's a thread regng my arowanas tail.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...th-identifying-parasite-and-treatment.495960/

I noticed the tail will improve when i remove the crushed corals and more water changes.

 

[RD.]

Crushed oyster shell, more effective than crushed coral. Sold at farm feed stores as chicken grit. Just make sure to rinse the cap out of it first.

 

[xraycer]

I do weekly 30% water changes, but I've had to do 2 water changes this week alone due to the ph crashing. I've had problems with this tank since before where i needed to have crushed corals to help maintain the ph. i've had problem with my arowana's tail for a few years now. and it gets better when i remove the crushed corals, problem is the ph keeps dropping really low.

I have a prefilter sponge on the intake of the canister so the the inside of the canister is quite clean.
it was 2-3 weeks ago that i last cleaned my canister, the inside was still quite clean, but i cleaned it to remove the crushed corals. not sure what is wrong with this tank of mine.

Crystal clear water and lightly soiled filter pads does not mean the water is healthy. Its the stuff you can't see that's toxic.

 

[batang_mcdo]

oh.... thanks!! I'll try to find them, i think ive seen them here before.

 

[batang_mcdo]

Crystal clear water and lightly soiled filter pads does not mean the water is healthy. Its the stuff you can't see that's toxic.

yup i know, what i meant was not much gunk inside the canister.
I"m just not sure whats causing the problem with my water.

 

[RD.]

this is most likely the issue ....

It also sounds like the alkalinity of your tap water may be low, and doesn't have the capacity to buffer the amount of fish urine produced, because the crushed coral had provided that extra buffering between your previous scheduled water changes.

 

[RD.]

I highly doubt that the crushed coral caused your issues with your Asian aros tail. Never heard of such a thing, with coral, or oyster shell.