Newbie....a few questions

Large Water Change Time

Hi Greg,

{Disclosure: The Guru types here do not believe pH has any relevance to anything, I respectfully disagree}
In my opinion I believe the pH drop is significant and somewhat alarming.

Immediately I recommend a major water change, as in 50%, 70% is better.

Organics as in too many fish/too little filtration is the probably cause of the pH slide, eventual crash. It will not be pretty. Your ammonia levels are in the range that will cause harm to your critters soon, likely already some gill damage already.

In the interim, multiple weekly water changes. :gw

Zeolite, Purigen, activated carbon such like in your filters might help.

Your local water authority should be able to give you the general hardness, GH and carbonate hardness, KH from the tap, as well as other pertinent information.

General hardness, GH has no influence on pH in normal aquarium ranges but for an aquarium like yours, a GH of 5-7-dGH.

Raising your carbonate hardness a couple of degrees won't hurt.

Biollante

 

If you aren't adding CO2, then a pH slide downwards warrants attention. In other words, do what Biollante said.

I'd have to see what the Fluval 305 is like, but at first glance it doesn't LOOK as though you're horribly overstocked at the moment. You didn't really say how old the tank was or how big the pleco and SAEs were. If you've been running for a month or so, it could be something in the substrate still breaking down and causing the pH slide. Any recent maintenance? Maybe a recent water change where you weren't paying attention and stuck the refill hose too near the cannister intake? ( no need to ask me how I know about this one, or the ammonia spike that will cause ).

-
S

 

I May Be Psychotic Rather Than Psychic But I See A 125-Gallon Tank In Your Future

Hi Greg, S,

One “geo juripari” being 11.5 inches (29 cm) I will go out on a limb and say, it is a Suriname eartheater, Geophagus proximus as opposed to Jurupari Eartheaters or Demon Fish Earth Eater, Satanoperca Jurupari. Anyway both are big heavy eating, somewhat messy fish.

I am not sure what Greg meant by Pleco, but should he mean Pterygoplichthys (Liposarcus) multuradiatus or some such then this is a monster (size wise) fish, growing to 48 inches (122 cm).

The Severums, Heros efasciatus while not bad now are heavy eaters that grow rapidly to a foot (30.5 cm).

I would anticipate a lot of organic waste to be dealt with in a rather confined area.

I am also rather surprised that any plant or any object in the substrate stays put.

Yes, Greg please post the water information.

Biollante

 

Buckets Are Not The Way To Go

Hi Greg,

Yes I think most folks just add the de-chlorinator straight in then refill or as refilling.

I really think you are going to need to figure on a series of every other or every third day water changes, I really recommend you get or make yourself a “Python” style http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3910&ref=4032&subref=AA&mkwid=SXCW4YcgE|pcrid|4166653116&cmpid=PPC-_-G-_-4032 water changer. It beats the heck out of buckets and they are simple enough to make yourself or some of the waterbed refill kits and garden hose work well. If you have, a garden the wastewater is great for plants trees veggie gardens so on.

Biollante

 

7-15/Hour Turnover

Hi Greg,

Yes another water change is just fine, every other or every third day is just great.

I suspect that the Fluvial 305 is too small for this tank, though it is rated at 185 gph (700 l/h), that is likely with 0 head and no filter materials, in a tank with big fellers like you have I think you are going to need at least 3 or 4 times that. 50-70% water changes every other day should take up the slack.

While changing the water look for and clean-up goop/gunk {technical terms} accumulating, wipe down everything you can.

I am not a big fan of hobbyist test kits, so I am not sure I would be totally reliant on them, still that ammonia reading is scary, particularly combined with the falling pH.

Pay attention to how the water smells and feels, it should have a very fresh clean lake smell, no unpleasant, no sharp or acrid smells, nothing off, certainly not even a whiff of ammonia.

Clean your filter and recharge/replace the Purigen, rinse the sponges in tank water, your buckets are not completely redundant, rinse the canister thoroughly.

Biollante