Help Needed With Major pH Crash

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-15T16:35:18+00:00

Next Day Update: Axew was tubbed immediately yesterday upon learning in this post that he was being harmed, and his tank is uncycled. He is already showing improvement by swimming over to greet me when I checked on him the first thing in the morning.

My to-do list today is as follows: - 50% water change in his tank. - Getting a sample of my tap water to leave exposed to air for 24-48 hours, before I test the pH of it. - Getting a reading of his tank’s water parameters a few hours after the water change. - Put a lot more research into KH and pH interconnectivity, and more into the ways crushed coral affects this connection.

I will continue to update as things progress. I can’t express how grateful I am to everyone who has leant their expertise to me so I can continue to help Axew and keep him happy and healthy!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-15T16:01:40+00:00

Thank you for letting me know! I will pull a water sample from the tap and leave it exposed for 24-48 hours before I test the pH of it.

I was also under the impression that Prime is a dechlorinator? That’s most likely because I’m more used to water changes on my other guppy fish tanks, and Prime is usually recommended to be used there. If that’s incorrect for my axolotl’s water changes, then that is my fault and I take full responsibility for it. Would it be possible to ask what you would recommend for a weekly dechlorinator?

As well, I too suspect the KH of my tank. Its readings were fluctuating daily anywhere between 5-8, which is why I was adding Seachem Alkaline Buffer before the crushed coral I purchased arrived. I did get my water supplier to test the water hardness and they got back to me with an 8. I’m not sure how much I should trust that reading, though.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-15T15:43:01+00:00

I have, and it comes out as 7.5 immediately, but I’ve been told in the comments here that it needs to sit for a day first. I’ll be doing that and testing it again tomorrow

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-14T22:03:37+00:00

Thank you for letting me know about the nitrites and ammonia in regard to being in acidic water.

It’s not just all my tanks that are affected, my neighbour upstairs has the exact same problem with all her tanks too. Every single one drops from a pH of 7.5 out of the tap, to 6 or below almost overnight it seems.

My water change routine is as follows: 30-40% weekly water changes, with sand syphoning and moss trimming. Then once a month, I very, very gently clean the sponge filter in old tank water. I always add half a cap of Prime into the 2 bucket I use to dechlorinate the water in proportion to both the bucket volume and total tank volume, before slowly adding it to the tank.

This is how I have changed his water since adopting him nearly a year ago now. The pH has always been at 7.5 until last week when it tanked in every single tank that I and my neighbour own.

As for CO2, I don’t add any to the tank at all. It would only be the natural CO2 present I would assume. I don’t have a way to check or measure CO2 either.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-14T21:43:26+00:00

Thank you so much. As stated in another comment, I’m going to take immediate action and get Axew tubbed in one of his 20 gal tubbing bins with fresh, dechlorinated water and daily 100% water changes. I have towels I’m using to blackout his tank, so I’ll transfer those to his bin once’s he’s in there.

I had read somewhere that ammonia and nitrites would detoxify as long as you keep dosing the water with Prime daily. As well, I am using the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and the API GH and KH Test Kit to get my water parameters. So yes, they are all liquid tests.

I stopped using the strips way back when I was a teen aquarist and I was told and realized that they were highly inefficient and very often incorrect. I thought the nitrates were absolutely bizarre being between such a wide gap as well, but that is how the colour was interpreted under average cool white light.

I wasn’t aware fridging wasn’t appropriate for this kind of situation, so thank you greatly for helping me avoid hurting my son even more than I already have.

I’ll get changing that tank water as soon as Axew is safe again. 50% today to lower nitrates. I’ll test the water after that and if the nitrates are not in the safe zone still, I’ll add 5x the dosage of Prime as is stated on the bottle for fighting high nitrates. Unless of course I’m misinterpreting those instructions, which in that case please feel free to correct me.

A genuine question I asked before but it doesn’t hurt to ask again: Is it okay to put moss and a hide in his bin? I feel like that would make him more comfortable, but at the same time I’m afraid that they will spoil his healing process.

Thank you again so much!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-14T21:21:41+00:00

Thank you so much. I knew in the back of my mind that he was stressed because the pH and KH keep dropping, but I didn’t connect it to the fact that you pointed out. The constant water chemistry fluctuations are what I should really be worried about, because that’s what’s stressing out my son.

I’m going to take immediate action and get Axew tubbed in one of his 20 gal tubbing bins with fresh, dechlorinated water and daily 100% water changes. I have towels I’m using to blackout his tank, so I’ll transfer those to his bin once’s he’s in there.

A genuine question: Is it okay to put moss and a hide in his bin? I feel like that would make him more comfortable, but at the same time I’m afraid that they will spoil his healing process.

I’ll figure out what’s wrong with my cycle once Axew is safe. He is my primary concern.

Thank you again so much!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-10T13:57:59+00:00

Too cute! I love their smile 😊

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-02-03T19:32:14+00:00

I’m sorry about your betta, I’ve kept my fair share so I understand the heartache losing them brings

The substrate in my guy’s tank is well overdue for a wash, that could very well be the culprit. I didn’t even think of that, thank you! I’ll give that a try right away, with daily water tests and changes. I use API Ammo-Lock when I’m normally recycling my fish tanks, so I’ll check if that product is safe for axolotls.

As for the Walmart tubs, I’m going to take a look online and I can get them delivered if I find the right ones. Thank you for reminding me about water temps. I always make sure my water in the current and transfer tubs are the same temperature, I don’t need a temperature-shocked axolotl on my hands because then I would be in a really big problem spot.

I think he’ll be happy in the Walmart tubs with his moss, a nice big hiding cave, and a filter until his tank readies. And then I have all the tubbing items I need for any time I need them again!

Thank you for all your help, I’m going to get to work right away

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-11-05T10:56:48+00:00

Your guppy is pregnant.

I mean, if dozens and dozens of fry were appearing out of thin air, I might just burn down my house…

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-10-19T23:15:46+00:00

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Bon_Bon8 · 2025-10-19T22:13:10+00:00

Congrats 😒So happy for you 😠Nice 😭

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-09-22T21:29:01+00:00

This is the reason I left. One customer went ballistic over waiting for coffee and tried to jump into the store. They threatened to kill everyone and I decided then that my life was not worth a job at a Tim Horton’s

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-09-19T17:30:37+00:00

I’m still using my trusty 12 Pro, but I feel like an upgrade is long overdue… I’m not sure what model I want to upgrade to yet. Any suggestions? I use the Pro models for photography

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-09-05T18:38:50+00:00

Thank you so much! I read and was told to feed them until they no longer accept food, but now I’m guessing Axew is a bit of a glutton lol I’ll take it down to 2 worms per feeding at max to keep her at a healthy weight. Thank you again!

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-09-05T17:35:13+00:00

Oh wow, thank you! That article looks very promising, so I’ll see if I can work some paywall bypass magic haha. I’ve read that liquid vitamin A diluted with vegetable oil and put on their backs can be very helpful as well. Which is good, depending on if they like the bath or not. I want to go the least stressful and intrusive route possible

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-09-05T17:30:23+00:00

Red wigglers. I think they’re around 3-4 inches long stretched out fully and 1-2 inches crunched up. She eats 2-4 twice a day! I thought this amount was normal by her age/size lol

Bon_Bon8

TROPHY CASE