Altering Water Parameters

[9murphy9]

Hey, does anyone know how to or were in can find a guide on altering water parameters i want to be able to alter my ph up i can get it down very well but struggle making it more alkiline it comes out my tap at about 5 so it would be handy to raise it to around 6.5 any help would be great thank
Alex

 

[Primous]

There are several ways do this usually in the form of items to put in your tank and filter to some liquids that you can find on ebay. But I'm not an advocate of changing your parameters. Not because it can be costly but because PH swings can harm your fish. When looking this up myself I found several threads online where people had lost there entire stock after a water change. Because at some point these "additives" run out and more often than not, then run out way before their advertised date and after a water change. And more importantly these additives also change other parameters that you're not testing for and swings in those can also compromise your stocks health.
 
For the record your PH is one I'd love to have! If you stick with the PH as it is out the tap your stock will adjust. Keeping it consistent (out the tap) is much more important than getting it down to a desired level. 
 
Just my two pence.

 

[ech0o]

The best way I have personally raised my pH is with porous rock.  If you scape a tank with basalt or other lava formed rock, minerals will slowly leach from the rocks over time and keep your pH buffered pretty high.   I feel like with a pH as low as 5, you would notice pretty solid results.   Also, you will want to keep the tank really clean as you will want to cut water changes back to keep your water from dropping pH.   As Pimous noted, there are additives, but its better to hit the problem from the source if it is possible.   There are substrates that leach minerals into the water column also and will raise ph.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I think you need to do a pH test after you let the tap water degass. A pH of 5.0 is not common at all from water companies. To be sure of your pH allow a container of tap to sit out for 24 hours before testing. Alternatively you can drop put an air pump into the wate rand let it bubble a couple of hours and test.
 
If you do indeed have water of that pH, you will need to raise the kH in order to be able to hold the pH up. You may even need to use a buffer. Here is a decent basic read. http/fins.actwin.com/aquariafaq.html Click on "Your First Aquarium" and then you will see:
 

• Practical Freshwater Chemistry
  The Big Components:
  (pH, Buffering Capacity, General Hardness, Salinity, Nutrients and Trace Elements)
• Altering Your Tank Water's Chemistry
  (Hardening, Softening, Changing pH)

 

[9murphy9]

Thanks guys i am worried about ph swings but i want to breed fish and 5 is a tad low for it and not too sure if my zebras would adapt? And ive let it sit its 5 alright is the not a powder that i can by and add x amount to x amount of litres and it will raise it by x ph i understand almost all the chemestry of if it but just cant thigure out how to raise it im aiming for 6.5 [

 

[hobby5]

Did you measure the pH inside your tank, is it any different? Did you try to increase your water agitation? What kind of zebra are you talking about?

 

[9murphy9]

Plecs and inside and out of the tank and each tank has diffrent water agitation but all test between 4.8 and 5.3

 

[Blobfish]

Plecs and inside and out of the tank and each tank has diffrent water agitation but all test between 4.8 and 5.3

 
Out of curiosity, roughly whereabouts in the UK do you live to have that kind of pH?

 

[9murphy9]

I live in Manchester

 

[KirkyArcher]

and the rain water in Manchester is Acidic too

 

[9murphy9]

Yep doesnt help either,so any one know any decent buffers?

 

[Blobfish]

I live in Manchester

 
Thank you, interesting to know.  There must be a pH map of the UK somewhere.
 
I'm sorry that I am unable to help you with the pH change, it's something I've not done myself.  Maybe you only answer is to try it.  There's a recipe here http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/buffer_recipe.php for a homemade buffer.

 

[fluttermoth]

It might be possible for you to use one of the remineralising mixtures. There's some that you use in RO water, for discus, so they wouldn't push your hardness or pH up too much.