Low pH (follow up)

Question
QUESTION: Here are the readings:
Nitrate - 20ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
GH - 75ppm
KH - 40ppm (isn't this too low?)
Ammonia - 0ppm

I also forgot to mention that I have an undergravel filter, and I was told that I need to have 1+ inches gravel. should I remove some gravel or not?

ANSWER: Hi Izzy
Well, you're water parameters all look perfect.  KH should be up over 50 to help keep the ph stable.  See if the increased aeration/water agitation helps and let me know.

I'm not a fan of under gravel filters.  They tend to keep the waste and uneaten food trapped underneath those plates.  Over time this can cause problems with the water quality-including lowering the ph.  One thing I was reading the other night with UGF's looking up something else, sometimes the gravel can cause a blockage I guess, or something like that, which can affect the output.  A lot of times this isn't known to the fish keeper until they do a water test-because everything looks normal and fine,...wish I remembered where I saw that article.  If the aeration doesn't help, might be worth it to try removing the UGF and going with a hang on the back type of filter instead.  That would be the only other thing I can think of that would be causing the low ph.

Let me know how that goes.

Christy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Christy
I Added another aeration stone and reduced the water level. it is slowly getting better the KH is 80ppm and pH is 6.4
Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Izzy

Cool :)  Glad that's working-and that's an easy fix lol!!
Thanks for the update!

Christy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for all your help!
I want to ask your advice on adding aquarium salt and/or baking soda to my 10 gallon tank and how much?

Answer
Hi Izzy
You're welcome!!

For salt, I recommend only using it for treating ich or parasite infections, fungal infections, or if there's nitrites present in the tank.  Zebra danios don't require salt in the tank, so no need for it.  

For the baking soda, I wouldn't use that either.  Zebras actually prefer a low ph, in the 6.5-7.0 range.  They're a very hardy fish, and like most aquarium fish we buy, can handle a ph from 6.0-8.0 and a bit higher or lower then that, just fine.  The main thing, you want a ph that will remain stable.  So, if you're ph stays at about 6.4-they'll do fine.  It's the large swings up or down that stress and kill them.  So just keep an eye on the ph and the other parameters(ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates), do the frequent weekly water changes, keep the water level low for the aeration, and hopefully the ph should stay about the same.

Let me know if you have more problems, but hopefully that's all it needed and will stay stable.  Good luck!

Christy