Cant Lower Ph

[Rorie]

Hi,

I have a high PH level in my tank, sitting just below 7.8. I added the appropriate amount of PH minus for my 90L tank which was supposed to lower it by 0.2-0.5. But it did nothing. I did a second dose, and eventually it dropped a bit. But a week later i tested my water, and it had shot straight back up!

I did a water change, and at the same time added my PH minus again, and there is the same problem, i just cant get it down!

Any advise?

 

[the biffster]

what decor and substrate have you got in your tank and also what is the ph of your tap water

 

[Rorie]

I have just normal rock type ornaments and plastic plants. I do not have any wood any more as i do not need it for the fish, or live plants.

The tap water is showing 8.0. I have now got the tank water down to 7.0, but i think it will rise over time again which confuses me!

 

[the biffster]

I have just normal rock type ornaments and plastic plants. I do not have any wood any more as i do not need it for the fish, or live plants.

The tap water is showing 8.0. I have now got the tank water down to 7.0, but i think it will rise over time again which confuses me!

your tap water pH is high but pH
normally lowers with time rather than
rise the reason i asked what is in the
tank in the way of decor is that it is sometimes
the decor that can cause a rise in pH like
the rocks they might be limestone and you might be using coral sand as a substrate which would put
your pH up 7.0 is neutral which is fine for most fish what gravel do you have in your tank but it sounds
like you water as a high carbonate hardness
were you live

 

[the biffster]

A good article here

http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_adjusting_pH.php


i think bog wood and peat are a better
way lower pH rather than using pH
adjusters

 

[Rorie]

The rocks and stuff are just made of resin i think. The gravel is pea....something....i forget the name, just the usual, nothing special.

I has bogwood in before which helped, but it took up a lot of room which i did not like, so when the plecs we had moved on, i removed the bogwood.

Ideally i would like to withhold putting the bogwood back in...any ideas?

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Something in your tank is pushing up the PH, and you are in a high PH area.

Its going to cause you problems. Chemical PH adjusters are one way of dealing with this, but it is a pain in the bum.

Take a look at this site:
http/www.firsttankguide.net/ph-troubleshooting.php

 

[the biffster]

the only thing i can suggest
is a large open topped
water container which
you and fill with water
and place and air stone
and a filter bag filled
with aquarium peat to lower the
pH you could also put a small heater
in there to bring it up to the right temp
i would leave to stand for two days check
the pH of if its what you need then use it
if not leave a bit longer


PS dont do what i did and forgot to
turn the heater off flash bang fried biffster
didnt half make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up

 

[karin]

If your tap water is 8 then that is what you will likely have in the end. It is not going to cause you extensive problems. I have 8 Ph and have healthy thriving tanks with a variety of community fish and South American cichlids. Remember that while there are lots of recommendations for lower Ph for fish, many are tank bred and can live in a wide range. There are some exceptions, Discus and German Blue Rams come to mind, but most will be fine with a Ph of 8. RELAX on the number and focus on keeping a constant Ph, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT! That is why most people on this forum will advise against product to lower or raise Ph as it introduces too much variability.

 

[orangefish]

I have about pH 8, and haven't had any problems to be honest. Why do you need to lower it?