How Do I Increase My Ph?

[Sarah5098]

The pH of my tapwater is 5.9, i thought this might change with cycling but no such luck. Is it just chemicals and crushed coral, or will crushed coral give me brackish water? Is there anythign natural i can use, like a rock or wood of a kind?
Thanks
Sarah

 

[rabbut]

Blimey, you have really low pH from the tap... What test kit are you using, most people based in Hudersfield that I talk to at work say tap water pH round there way is pH7-7.5... Makes me wonder if you are using test strips, or a dodgy test kit...

For upping the pH though, you have a few options, as covered in This Thread

I'd check the test kit first though, as it may be a bit off...

HTH
Rabbut

 

[WILDER]

There this thread aswell rabbut.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=289916

 

[Sarah5098]

Its a nutrafin mini master test kit. I have tested my water about last year and it came up with 7.5, but on testing it now i have got 5.9, i have retested but the same result comes up. I might take it to my lfs just to be sure, but ive been told this test kit is reliable. Can i use something like smart price water?

 

[K-Holed]

Are you using the same testkit you used last year? and if so have you checked the expiry date on the chemicals?

Unless you have a private water source, it would be unusual to have a pH that low. Very low pHs can lead to pinholing of copper pipes and also cause copper residue to enter your water giving it a blue/green tinge.

 

[rabbut]

As above, domestic tap water supplies should have a higher pH unless you have a lot of CO2 in the water... Try letting a bucket of water stand somewhere overnight in the house, ideally with an air stone going into it, and test the pH then. Hopefully it will be higher.

Also, as said above, old test kits may cause issues with reading accuracy, so get the LFS to check the reading, or buy a new pH test kit

All the best
rabbut

 

[Sarah5098]

New test kit has been ordered, i shall check soon. My chemicals are in date so now trying an API tester
Also thinking about phoning yorkshire water board to see if they have any readings.
I sat my water in the bucket and ran the air stone but no luck, still the same 5.9.
Thank you for all the advice

 

[OldMan47]

If you need to bump up the pH, it can be done using limestone chips, crushed shell or crushed coral for a gradual pH and KH increase. The added component needs to be in a place where the water will flow over it all the time. Depending on what filter you have, that can be in the filter or in the return path from the filter.

 

[Sarah5098]

i have a fluval 3+ so dont quite know if chips will fit in between the two pads, for such a big filter there seems little media space. I will sure give it a go though. Does just any lfs have limestone chips?
Thanks
Sarah

 

[OldMan47]

Limestone chips would be something you would get elsewhere like a garden shop. They selll it for things like putting around plants as a decorative touch. Crushed coral or crushed shell will be sold at the LFS as substrate for saltwater tanks. If you look at a bag of the stuff it is obviously bits of shell or coral.

 

[LucaBrasi]

I used the API Proper pH 7.0 powder form, works very well

they have other pH levels too

what it does is that it rejects pH bounce and adjusts the pH to the designated range

also remives chlorine and neutralizes chloramines, adds electrolytes and removes heavy metals

GREAT!!!

 

[K-Holed]

In my experience, pH powders are only ever really a short term fix. Unless you're willing to dose it every time you do a water change. Better to locate the source of the problem and try and fix that, rather than battling against it and risking pH swings.

 

[dthoffsett]

Limestone chips would be something you would get elsewhere like a garden shop. They selll it for things like putting around plants as a decorative touch. Crushed coral or crushed shell will be sold at the LFS as substrate for saltwater tanks. If you look at a bag of the stuff it is obviously bits of shell or coral.

Just thought I'd add that if you go this route, you'll want to rinse your coral/limestone chips about once a month under tap water. Yes, I said tap water, the coral/chips tend to build up a bio-film over time that reduces their ability to leach calcium, rinsing them under tap water will remove this.

 

[Tolak]

Limestone chips would be something you would get elsewhere like a garden shop. They selll it for things like putting around plants as a decorative touch. Crushed coral or crushed shell will be sold at the LFS as substrate for saltwater tanks. If you look at a bag of the stuff it is obviously bits of shell or coral.

Just thought I'd add that if you go this route, you'll want to rinse your coral/limestone chips about once a month under tap water. Yes, I said tap water, the coral/chips tend to build up a bio-film over time that reduces their ability to leach calcium, rinsing them under tap water will remove this.

Never knew that, but it does make sense. You might want to consider keeping some of the more difficult NW species in the future, that water sounds perfect for them. I would kill for tap water like that, the trouble I go through trying to get tank water to that pH.

 

[Sarah5098]

Thanks for all your help! Youve been great. Im making my trip to the lfs to get re-tested, then going on a CaCO3 search. And i would love to keep more difficult NW species if i had any idea what they were lol. This is my first ever fish tank so i know very little about most things