High Ph And Needing To Get It Down!

[fishcollector7000]

High there,

I am in desperate need for ideas to reduce my ph. i have very high levels (8.5) and i need suggestions on reducing this permenantly!

Help is much appreciated.

Thanx

 

[12azor]

If you have any extra aeration in your tank stop it as it removes the CO2 in your tank which raises the pH. Also you oculd try using a pH down chemical that you should find in any of your lfs'.

 

[alessasavoca]

hiya, i have very high ph also. I wouldn't use chemicals as they end up causing pH swings which is much worse than fish just adapting. What fish are you planning to keep ? Most will adapt to a high pH, and the pH would only cause concern if you wanted to breed them. If not, just having CO2 in the tank (if you have live plants) will lower your pH. You could also try peat filtering.

 

[Tolak]

Do not waste your time or money on any pH reducing chemicals. High pH generally means harder water, hardness stabilizes pH. You may be able to reduce it for a short time, but it will rebound to its previous level. This is not healthy for your fish.

Most fish that are available at your lfs are able to adjust to a wide pH range, and a stable pH is far more important than trying to target a certain pH that is considered ideal for your fish. Unless you are keeping wild caught species from areas having water with a lower pH this is nothing to worry about.

If you are keeping wilds, or are trying to spawn & breed species from these areas, the only way to safely & reliably reduce your pH is to start with ro water. Water with a higher pH, generally having a higher gH & kH, needs minerals removed. This is what a ro unit does, giving you a blank slate so to speak with your water parameters. With a good unit you will end up with a pH of 7.0, gH & kH of 0. You will end up wasting around 4 gallons, if not more of water for every gallon of pure water produced.

So, unless you need it for breeding or keeping wilds just acclimate your fish to your water parameters. I keep & breed angels, a fish that is originally from soft, low pH water, in a pH of 7.7, with gH around 180.

 

[fishcollector7000]

I always have had high ph and the fish are ok, its just not good for them long term and i dont want to hurt them! i do have a planted tank? would you suggest planting it out more? rain water has been suggested also??? any experience?

 

[alessasavoca]

to be honest i wouldn't use rain water as you don't know what's in it. I would just stick with your own tap water, I keep and breed betta splendens in my local water, one tank has CO2 and it has brought down the pH a bit but they are all fine. Don't worry you aren't hurting you fish