Can I Use Baking Soda (sodium Bicarbonate)?

[beany_bot]

I do this for my swimming pool because my tap water is pH 6.2 and 0 total alkalinity (hardness). Can it be used in my fish tank?

 

[dthoffsett]

Sure can. If you are going to use it on an established tank, be sure to very slowly raise the ph to avoid stressing your fish.

 

[OldMan47]

Yes you can use bicarbonate of soda but most people will suggest that you use crushed coral instead.

 

[pauly]

Yes you can use bicarbonate of soda but most people will suggest that you use crushed coral instead.

bicarb for the short-term, crushed coral for the long term

 

[geo7x]

Why do you want to change the pH? Pretty much all of the fish in your sig prefer acidic water, and tampering with the pH is best avoided if possible, better to keep it stable.

 

[beany_bot]

Why do you want to change the pH? Pretty much all of the fish in your sig prefer acidic water, and tampering with the pH is best avoided if possible, better to keep it stable.

Just seems very low, also to keep the pH stable as you said I need to increase the alkalinity. hence my question.

 

[celaeno]

yes, adding a small amount of pure baking soda will raise the pH and keep it raised temporarily. how much to add depends on your KH (smaller amount if low KH, higher amount if high KH).

for some reason, crushed coral isn't working on my 20 gallon tank. i have 4 full tsp of the stuff in a filter bag inside my power filter and the pH still drops like 0.2-0.3 every 3 days. anyone know why?

 

[Tobigara]

From what i've learned on here, everything in a fish tank will grow a bio-film. the bio-film coats the coral and stops the calcium from desolving in the water. therefore not raising kh or pH. not sure about the science of this but that's what i was told and it makes sense tho some people don't agree.

as for using baking soda...1 tsp per 10 us gallons will raise the kh 2-4 degrees and the pH by about .5. you might have to play with the proportions to get just right for you. it's can be a pain in the booty but the fact that you have complete control makes up for this