Can't Get Ph Down

[sparrow6190]

I can't get my ph to go down in my 100 gallon tank, i set it up about a week ago and have been adding ph down but it won't go down from around 8.2 at all.

 

[furryrabbit]

why would you want it any lower??

 

[sparrow6190]

it wasn't actually 7.4, it was 8.2 or around there

it won't go down

 

[Fadi]

I would reccomend a water change then, about 20% then add the Ph down, get some more oppinions first though.

 

[qwikimpss]

It is unadvisable to add PH down. If you have a high KH in your water causing the high PH when the PH down will only lower the PH for a short time before the buffers bring the PH back up. One way to lower PH is to inject CO2 into the tank. The CO2 turns into carbonic acid in your tank and lowers your PH a bit. This also has added benefits if you have a planted tank. On your tank tho a DIY CO2 set up MIGHT work if you can do it with 2 or 3 2-liter bottles since the tank is so large. If you really want to go this route, depending on whether or not you really wanna lower the PH that badly, then you should go with a pressurized CO2 system, but they can be pricey. Also adding driftwood will help lower PH from the tannis leaking into the water from the wood but this will "stain" your water a yellowish tinge for a short time and the affects will only last so long.

 

[demonmagus]

put some peat into your filter

 

[sparrow6190]

could it be the brick or rock in the tank?

 

[Bignose]

Here is the real question: what fish are you trying to keep. I have kept several fish, even caught them spawing several times, at a pH of 8.4, even though their profiles said this was too high.

It is far, far, far more important to keep pollution free and stable water than to get it exactly in the pofiled pH range. Some fish may not spawn, but will live long, healthy, happy lives with a stable pH outside thier preferred range.

 

[demonmagus]

thats a good point, especially if they have been brought locally

 

[Qays]

My pH is at 8.5.

It doesnt matter unless you have very picky and hard to keep fish.

 

[sparrow6190]

I would still like it lower, I have
1 small pacu (a little bigger than my hand)
1 electric yellow cichlid
1 blue with black verticle thick stripes
1 pictus catfish (gonna get 2 or 3 more)
1 pink kissing gourami
and about a dozen or 2 feeder fish (i was using them to start the tank, and they will be food for the rope snakes)

 

[Bignose]

The electric yellow is from the African Rift lakes, in nature they have pH's from 8.0 to 9.0. The blue one (which you should try to get a species ID on) if most likely from the African rift lakes as well. The gourami is normally very tolerant of higher pHs, and at least 1 source notes that the pictus catfish's range is 6.0 to 8.0. The only fish you have from really soft and acidic waters is the pacu.

In summary, you could be doing more harm by trying to lower the pH than good for you fish.

In a similar note, for the wellfare of the fish, you may want to consider returning some of the fish you have. For example, those African cichlids will probably end up being too aggressive for the gourami. Pacus are schooling fish, which means they really should have 5 or 6, and will grow to be very, very large.

Consider returning some of these fish, and replanning the tank -- feel free to ask compatibility questions on the forums here -- there are several very experienced fishkeepers on here. Your water seems like a very good canidate for an African cichlid tank, lots of beautiful fish from that area of the world.

 

[sparrow6190]

the pacu is going to be donated to a public aquarium when he outgrows this tank.

and the blue one is a Frontosa cichlid.

 

[Harif87]

It is unadvisable to add PH down. If you have a high KH in your water causing the high PH when the PH down will only lower the PH for a short time before the buffers bring the PH back up. One way to lower PH is to inject CO2 into the tank. The CO2 turns into carbonic acid in your tank and lowers your PH a bit. This also has added benefits if you have a planted tank. On your tank tho a DIY CO2 set up MIGHT work if you can do it with 2 or 3 2-liter bottles since the tank is so large. If you really want to go this route, depending on whether or not you really wanna lower the PH that badly, then you should go with a pressurized CO2 system, but they can be pricey. Also adding driftwood will help lower PH from the tannis leaking into the water from the wood but this will "stain" your water a yellowish tinge for a short time and the affects will only last so long.

I got some mylasian driftwood in my tank since sunday and the pH didnt not only NOT go down but it went up! i dont know if its from the DW or not but either way i could tell u that the DW didnt do anything (yet)
My Q is do you have to wait longer for pH effects to start happening? Also my water didnt turn any colors like it said on the packgage so i dont know whats goin on lol

 

[SamUK]

mopani bog wood (guessin thats whats meant by malaysian) doesnt buffer the PH and normally doesnt release tannins either.


i got 2 pieces at xmas and they didnt tint the water in the slightest.