How Do I Change My Ph? Or Can I ?

missPenguin

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Hiya guys,

Tank: 126, 4 1/2weeks old
Occupants: 4 platys [in there for 2 1/2 weeks]
Amonia 0.25ppm [daily water changes to help]
Nitrite 0.00 ppm
Nitrate 0.00 ppm
PH 7.8

I would love [when the tank is cycled in about 4 weeks or so, wish I'd known about Fishless Cycling] to get a couple of Dwarf Gouramis but I notice they need tank with a ph of 6.8. Naturally my tap water seems to have a ph range of 7.2 to 7.8.

Is there anyway of getting this down? Without using those dodgy ph adjust products? I would *love* to keep Dwarf Gouramis, but obviously I can't if my ph is too high ????

Would adding plants help?
 
Hiya :) there is no need to lower your pH chemically. An unstable fluctuating pH is far more dangerous than a stable very high pH.
Many of us have pH levels of 8 or more and have community fish living and breeding happily.

You can however try adding some bogwood - which over time might lower your pH a little. But it doesn't happen instantly (which is far safer anyway).
 
I think you can keep dwarf gouramis anyway. IF they have survived their time in your lfs they will have learnt to cope with your local ph. Just acclimatise them carefully to your tank. But I would wait a little longer than just after cycling, let the tank mature for a few months first.

What you can also do is add bogwood. It does bring the ph down a bit. And looks nice.
 
Thanks guys !

:D

I originally bought some ph adjust stuff and fortunately have never used it. This hobby is expensive but worth it. I'll try getting some bogwood and adding it. I'll maybe try another aquarium centre when I finally go to get my Dwarf Gouramis because the one I'm buying from currently has water with quite a low ph [6.8-7.00 the guy said].

I would love to keep these fish, they look so beautiful.

One other query [thinking long term here] could I keep them with Penguin tetras?
 
Not sure about keeping them with penguin tetras, but I know you can still buy your gouramis from that supplier once your tank has matured a bit.

All you need to do is use the drip method :) See this handy aricle that tells you how to.
 
hi miss penguin
if you click on the link in my sig for water, it will help you with more natural ways of lowering your pH and also help you understand the interaction of, pH and kH too.
 
hi miss penguin
if you click on the link in my sig for water, it will help you with more natural ways of lowering your pH and also help you understand the interaction of, pH and kH too.


The Wolf, that is a fantastic link thank you [and thank you to everyone else, you have also been fantastically helpful] which is great help.

However, I have yet another question!

Currently the ammonia level in my tank is 0.25ppm [again I lament not knowing about fishless cycling] as my tank seems to beginning it's cycle, or has been put into cycle when i swapped out the polyester filter for carbon to get a rid of the meds I'd used for fin rot. Whilst I know my little platties are hardy, I'm worried about them.

I'm taking the advice I found here http://www.fishforever.co.uk/cycling.html which is great, but it says to increase the amount of oxygen to help the fish and bacteria colonise, so I have turned up my filter to full so there are tons of bubbles [which the plattys seem to love!]

Now if I have understood this correctly, this will decrease the CO2 in my tank which in turn could cause the higher ph I am expriencing [thinking about it, my ph went up when I turned the filter up when I was medicating].

I have also read that ammonia is more toxic to fish when the ph is higher. I don't have any means [currently] of getting more CO2 into my tank other than decreasing the amount of bubbles and thus lowering the surface agitation, but I risk my bacteria if I do this!

How do I balance my current needs? I would say my current prioity is to get my ammonia lower, but lowering the ph will help that surely?

Help!
 
welcome to the complex world of water chemistry :)

yes ammonia is more dangerouse in high pH levels
however yours is not that high,so for now, don't worry about the pH.

the main concern, as you have correctly deduced, is the ammonia.
I would continue to do what you are doing and test the ammonia levels every 24 hrs (Just to know where things are at) you should see a drop in ammonia to zero and a small rise in nitrItes. then the nitrites should drop to zero and you will see nitrAtes (of course you now know this).

once this has happened I'm sure that your pH will stabalise at around 7.5
then you can start to think about lowering it naturally.

To sum up
you are doing the right thing, so there is no need for concern.
just keep an eye on the ammonia an nitrItes :thumbs:
 
Thank you so much :D

You lot are FAB!

I'm very much aware I'm an over-anxious new owner, but I figure it's better to ask too many questions and check check and double check everything you are doing than be complacent. I have been testing daily since the ammonia went to 0.25ppm and I'll continue to do so till my tank has stabilized.

I would hate to think I'd hurt my little fishies. I also promised my other half [and myself] I wouldnt get attatched to them, but it's soooo difficult not to as they are so cute! :D
 

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