How Do I Increase My Ph?

[waterdrop]

He might mean "New World" species, I think that's a category in our species index, but its pretty cryptic so hopefully he'll verify this for us. This would make sense because I believe most new world (south america mostly I think) like their water soft and acid.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

Many of the fish that originate in fast flowing waters and in places with leaf littered river bottoms instead of rocky river bottoms thrive in very soft water that often has a low pH. The Amazon river basin fish are among those that do better with that kind of water. Lots of the common new world egg layers fit that basic description but it would be best to check each fish species individually before adding it to water with a very low mineral content. I do not have that kind of water and many of the fish that would thrive in it are able to survive in my high pH hard water tanks, but they would really thrive and be able to breed in proper water for their type like that.

 

[waterdrop]

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.

Interesting - we've tended to advise crushed coral in the filter for when you have fish and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) for when you are fishless cycling around here in the beginners section quite a bit...

How do the limestone chips compare with crushed coral? Is their effect slower? Do these have a place in our good set of tools OM47? WD

 

[OldMan47]

Limestone is the same thing as coral. It is calcium carbonate. Being a hard rock like material, it dissolves a little slower but I have seen it used in commercial settings to prevent overly pure water causing problems to the container it is in. By raising the pH, the container is saved from too much corrosion. It would probably be a bit harder to find in a garden shop than crushed coral is in a fish store. It will usually just be labelled as gravel with no indication of the chemical composition. That means that if you don't recognize it, you would never know what you had.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, I knew it was the same thing, and you've confirmed the main interesting thing I was looking for: namely that it dissolves a little more slowly, which makes it a useful tool, being slightly different from crushed coral. The other hunch I was thinking about was that perhaps it might be a bit easier to clean, as compared to crushed coral.

We've already had the other interesting comment by dthoffsett that tap water works better for the periodic cleanings and I just got to thinking that perhaps the biofilms and other debris would clean off of limestone chips more easily than the probably rougher surfaces of the coral.

The question of whether we can identify good versions of limestone chips so that as aquarists we buy the right thing bothers me a bit though.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Sarah5098]

Thanks for all the info! I might consider it later but i really wanted to start with something easier lol, like guppies

 

[rabbut]

Guppies, easy to keep, lol, they are one of a few fish I've had trouble keeping alive for more than a few weeks... Misinformation there I think, if it's trade fish anyway...

In fairness, in a mature tank they do OK, but they need a tank that's been going 6 months of longer to realistically stand a chance

 

[Sarah5098]

Guppies, easy to keep, lol, they are one of a few fish I've had trouble keeping alive for more than a few weeks... Misinformation there I think, if it's trade fish anyway...

In fairness, in a mature tank they do OK, but they need a tank that's been going 6 months of longer to realistically stand a chance

I guess so, ive heard they were easy to keep, i wont start off with guppies then . My tank ideas are pygmy cory, rummy nose tetra, sparkling gourami (and a couple of guppies) which would be best to add first?

 

[rabbut]

The tetras and corries should be fine I'm not well up on Sparkling Gorurami, so I'll let that one pass to someone whom knows the fish