Having trouble keeping ph up in new system

[Jeffrey A Harris]

I am having trouble keeping my ph up  in  my system. a little back ground on system 275 gal FT, 60 gal sump, three 3ft X 4ft GB. I have been cycling for about 2 weeks at first PH was a bit high 8 to 8.2 used a little PH down about 2oz and then left it alone it was about 7.6 on the 4th day. on fifth day 7.2 and thought I had it so I left it alone. 6th day it dropped to 6.6 but I did nothing. the 7th day the bottom fell out of the ph it was at 6 or less so I used PH up 1/2 tsp of each in kit it came up to 6.4 next morning it was back below 6 so dosed again back up to 6.4 next morning back below 6. I have been fighting this for 3 more days and tonight it was the same thing back below 6. My ammonia is at 2 to 3 ppm I do have nitrites(2) and some nitrates (5) is this normal early on to have PH issues like this? Thank you in advance for your help.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Decreasing PH is a sign that you bacteria are hard at work. If you look on your PH UP bottle it will tell you the raw ingredients that are at work. Potassium bicarbonate may be one of the things on the ingredients and you can buy that on ebay or a beer brewing supply website. That is a fast acting one so good for now. In the future you may want to use something that is slower acting but longer lasting like calcium carbonate (egg shells or shell grit) There are others that are Hydroxides but they are not considered "organic".

[Vlad Jovanovic]

...or that your pH down is hard at work...

pH 8 -8.2 is a great pH for fish-less cycling...should've just left it alone instead of doing the 'Elvis roller coaster'...

So what exactly is in that bottle of pH UP...since there not all the same...?

You can make your own potassium hydroxide with nothing more than rain water and ashes. It's super easy, skill level 1 type stuff...and about as "organic" and "sustainable" as it gets IMO...

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Vlad, I'd be interested in seeing that DIY recipe for potassium hydroxide Vlad

[Vlad Jovanovic]

You need a (small or large...it doesn't matter) barrel (plastic or wooden...absolutely no aluminum or galvanized steel) with a spigot near the bottom. Some sort of mechanical filter (I use some pH neutral rocks and some straw. A couple inches of rocks in the bottom of the barrel and 3-4 inches of straw atop the rocks). Ashes from hardwood trees (like Oak, Elm, Locust etc...no pine trees). Dump the ashes over top of the rocks and straw. Put in your rain water (de-mineralized/distilled water works too...just don't use tap water. It's really important that the water be as free of minerals and bicarbonates/alkalinity)...Let it all sit for a half day, a day (it doesn't really matter). Grab a plastic bucket put it under the spigot, and open the spigot. Collect the water in to the plastic bucket. Close the spigot. Pour the water from the bucket back into the barrel. Repeat the process of filtering that water through ashes until you arrive at the desired strength (pH). 

That's it.

Soft, aggressive, mineral free water will leach the potassium from the ashes and leave you with KOH. The rocks and straw do nothing chemically for the process. Again, they are just a filter to keep the ashes from clogging up the spigot.

[Jeffrey A Harris]

 Calcium Carbonate and potassium carbonate