Low pH in a cycled system

[Deborah M Espie]

Hi I have a 700 gallon system that has been slowly cycled with fish and plants for the past 4 months. The system is light on fish, I could handle more but can't just add more bc I am raising trout. I am on city water but the water here is very hard, so a low pH has caught my attention.

My pH is low, 6.0 with no sign of green, so it could be even lower. The fish and plants all look fine. This morning I noticed a bit of white foam on the surface of the water and wonder if this could have anything to do with pH.

Ammonia levels are fine, nitrates are a bit high, I need to incorporate another grow bed and more plants.

Any ideas why pH would be so low in this situation.

[George]

nitrification lowers PH and it must be raised, as needed.

[Deborah M Espie]

this morning my fish are not eating for the first time since I started the system. What product can I add immediately, do you know? Bc I'm not sure I have time order something from APSource. Is there a form of calcium carbonate that might be at a hardware store and safe?

[George]

hydrated lime from a garden supply -  if not available, baking soda

[Deborah M Espie]

Thank you

George said:

hydrated lime from a garden supply -  if not available, baking soda

[Deborah M Espie]

Thank you

Randall Wimbish said:

Calcium carbonate is available at homebrew shops.  Potassium bicarbonate can be purchased at Nuts.com.

[Alex Veidel]

I've been getting my potassium bicarbonate from Atria Aqua Gardens and my calcium carbonate from Kelp4less:

http://stores.atriaaquagardens.com/potassium-bi-carbonate-khco3/

https://www.kelp4less.com/shop/calcium-carbonate/

[Deborah M Espie]

Thank you

Alex Veidel said:

I've been getting my potassium bicarbonate from Atria Aqua Gardens and my calcium carbonate from Kelp4less:

http://stores.atriaaquagardens.com/potassium-bi-carbonate-khco3/

https://www.kelp4less.com/shop/calcium-carbonate/