The Puffer Forum

I have a 33 gallon aquarium that is fully cycled! The peramiters are Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrates 20ppm, and the PH was only at like 6! I have a hermit crab and 2 balloon mollies in it right now. The hermit crab seemed to not be doing so well with the low PH levels, so I rushed to the pet store and got some stuff to raise the PH to 8.3, I put the stuff in and about a couple hours later I noticed my rock is going white! Why is it going white? What does it mean when it goes white? and will it go back to normal? Should I stop adding the PH raiser? But I need my PH to go up to at least 8 so I can add the clownfish I want.

Try keeping your nitrates down to 5PPM or less if possible

Check the info on this link, it is relevant to your question http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/livero ... ngwhit.htm

how high/fast did you raise the PH?

I just followed the directions on the bottle. It said to add 1 capfull per every 5 gallons, and it said it could raise the pH to the 8.3 in a day or it could take a week depending on how low the original pH was. I did that last night and when I checked the pH this morning it went from 6 to 7.5 in one day. Is that shocking the coraline? The fish and hermit crab I have seem fine, the hermit is actually showing improvment.

The bottle of what?

holly_puff wrote:I have a 33 gallon aquarium that is fully cycled! The peramiters are Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrates 20ppm, and the PH was only at like 6! I have a hermit crab and 2 balloon mollies in it right now. The hermit crab seemed to not be doing so well with the low PH levels, so I rushed to the pet store and got some stuff to raise the PH to 8.3, I put the stuff in and about a couple hours later I noticed my rock is going white! Why is it going white? What does it mean when it goes white? and will it go back to normal? Should I stop adding the PH raiser? But I need my PH to go up to at least 8 so I can add the clownfish I want.

What are your other parameters? What is your Specific gravity? What kind of substrate are you using?

Your nitrates are way too high. Mix up a new batch of salt water and do a 30% water change today and another tomorrow, you need to get those nitrates down. Stop adding the PH raiser, it will add naturally with the water changes.

+ 1 Solo

Check the pH of your mixed SW. It should be way higher than 6. Don't even think of adding any fish, until that tank is stable.

I have to use the pH raiser because the water out of my tap is about 6 maybe 6.5, no joke... I just tested it! GH-0, KH-0 ammonia and nitrite and nitrate all 0. So, I NEED to add the pH raiser. My GH goes to 180 and my KH goes to 240 when I add the salt mix, but the pH only goes up to like maybe 7. I am using black sand as a substrate but I have a crap load of shells in the tank aswell. I am actually gunna go pick up some crushed coral substrate to mix in with the sand when I get paid. I've been using the PH raiser and my pH is now steady at 8.3 and no more of my live rock has gone white but my tank is all cloudy now.

We're not talking aquarium salt. We're talking synthetic salt made by companies like: Red Sea, Instant Ocean, ESV, etc.

holly_puff wrote:I have to use the pH raiser because the water out of my tap is about 6 maybe 6.5, no joke... I just tested it! GH-0, KH-0 ammonia and nitrite and nitrate all 0. So, I NEED to add the pH raiser. My GH goes to 180 and my KH goes to 240 when I add the salt mix, but the pH only goes up to like maybe 7. I am using black sand as a substrate but I have a crap load of shells in the tank aswell. I am actually gunna go pick up some crushed coral substrate to mix in with the sand when I get paid. I've been using the PH raiser and my pH is now steady at 8.3 and no more of my live rock has gone white but my tank is all cloudy now.

I'm not using aquarium salt stupid! Aquarium salt is for fresh water...You really think I am that dumb of a person?... comon! I use Instant Ocean marine salt mix! My salinity is an SG 1.023. I know the difference between aquarium salt and marine salt! And My question has nothing to do with the salt... I think that it was the pH raiser that made my LR go white in some spots, but now that my pH is 8.3, I am only going to use it once a week to keep the pH at 8.3.

Holly, You really need to calm down & stop being so rude to the folks trying to help you or go elsewhere.

BTW, aquarium salt isn't for FW either.

actually yes, aquarium salt IS for freshwater

Other than for times of disease, there is absolutely no use for "aquarium salt" in FW.
library/misc/thesaltoftheearth/

WOW!