Best Way To Change Ph?

Jase82 · Mar 31, 2011

Hey guys,

I had a fish tank when i was a kid, but was not very knowledgeable about it. I recently got a 29 gallon (info in my signature) and while I've been learning a lot, I need to learn a couple basic things.

1) How can I lower my PH, Ive heard the water here is about 8. The water here is hard too, so I'd like to soften it up a bit for some Killis.

2) What is the most common way to get a water reading, and where can I get the Kit?

Thanks for the help.

Caprichoso · Mar 31, 2011

I have a pH of about 7.8 and I've found that other than using bogwood, the best thing to do is to not mess with the pH! Seriously, buffering and adjusting it and keeping it stable is not an easy thing to do. It really messed things up for me. When you start having to add agents to adjust it, you are opening yourself up to swings in pH(not a good thing and can be very hard on your fish). I had Killi fish years ago and they did quite well in my tank that I had loaded with bogwood. That being said, I failed chemistry in high school, lol, so you might have better success with all the pH buffering kits than me!

Squidward · Apr 1, 2011

Jase82 said:
Hey guys,

I had a fish tank when i was a kid, but was not very knowledgeable about it. I recently got a 29 gallon (info in my signature) and while I've been learning a lot, I need to learn a couple basic things.

1) How can I lower my PH, Ive heard the water here is about 8. The water here is hard too, so I'd like to soften it up a bit for some Killis.

2) What is the most common way to get a water reading, and where can I get the Kit?

Thanks for the help.

There are a number of ways of adjusting your ph.
As Caprichoso has said, a stable higher pph is better than a lower one that fluctuates.

But you do have a number of options.
Your KH is probably quite high too and this may also need to come down a bit.

RO Water. You could mix a percentage to your tap water.

Lots of bogwood in the tank. But my KH was high, and no matter how much wood I added, the ph didn't budge.

Peat. You could add your own home made peat extract. I think the Kilis would like this.

Similar is Blackwater Extract. Though this tends to be quite expensive.

Seachem PH/KH Reducer. I have recently discovered this product. Apparently it breaks down the carbonates into CO2 (which reduces the PH), water and a harmless salt. I am busy experimenting with this in small doses. But I have heard good reports.

I think that whichever method you use, you should do the changes slowly, and keep monitoring the ph and kh to make sure there are no big swings, and that all changes are gradual.

jess:) · Apr 1, 2011

2) What is the most common way to get a water reading, and where can I get the Kit?

pets at home! - API freshwater kit.

tests nitrate, ammonia and ph.

very simple to use

costs £33 and could last about a year apparently depending on how often you test the water.

Monty-2010 · Apr 1, 2011

ebay even cheaper 21.45

http

/cgi.ebay.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce#ht_1954wt_1139

tenohfive · Apr 1, 2011

Monty-2010 said:
ebay even cheaper 21.45

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce#ht_1954wt_1139

Thats the kit to go for, just make sure you get the liquid drop based kit. The strips are unreliable.

tonyp5467 · Apr 1, 2011

i use coral gravel in my external filters to raise my ph levels but it can also be used as substrate or mixed with your substrate,i cannot do this as im using 2mm black quartz gravel

Squidward · Apr 1, 2011

tonyp5467 said:
i use coral gravel in my external filters to lower my ph levels but it can also be used as substrate or mixed with your substrate,i cannot do this as im using 2mm black quartz gravel

Coral gravel will raise the ph. Not lower it.

tonyp5467 · Apr 1, 2011

sorry yes thats right :crazy:

im having a really bad day sorry for any confusion caused
i had a massive ph crash recently and thats what was recommended to me by my lfs to use

Jase82 · Apr 4, 2011

Thanks for all the replies, Ill pick up one of the kits, and look into getting some bogwood. Right now i have a few lime sized pieces, but i doubt that will help any.

fishman1908 · Apr 4, 2011

You can use a peat if using an external cannister or a water softening pillow but as has been stated, I would check with your lfs where you intend to buy your stock from and see what they do if anything as you may be going to a lot of trouble for nothing if the fish are already acclimatised to a higher pH & hardness.

We don't mess with our water so all our customers do not have to turn into chemists and there is less chance of shock & stress.

Wood will gradually bring it down also.

Robin