Lower pH naturally?

[Keenamoss]

Hiya,

I am setting my tanks up and getting really obsessed and I really want a pH of 7 for betta (and bristlenose and harlequins also like pH around here) and over a cpl weeks and several water changes I can't seem to get quite on 7, maybe 7.2 is the lowest, all the way to 7.5 after a partial water change. I know this is OK for the fish, but is there any way to keep a tank's pH lower? I have driftwood in both tanks and I just ordered some of those almond leaves, does anyone have any other tricks for making little differences in bringing acidity up? My straight tap water is 7.8. Or maybe bringing it down lower would actually be too much of an adjustment for the fish once they're in there? How much is a normal swing for reasonably hardy fish like betta and the ones mentioned? Thanks.

130L, 27c, amm 0 nit 0 nitra 0, ph 7.3 one day after water change, planted.

16L, 27c, amm 0 nit 0 nitra 0, ph 7 3 post water change today (this smaller one always seems to be lower pH, have two medium sized driftwoods with that anubias plant attached in there)...

 

[HoldenOn]

Almond leaves will help.

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

Ist be grateful it's a 7.8 most fish find that livable - a few like it in the 5's/ Usually there is a RANGE given for a reason. It's telling you "don't be so dang picky, what is the point?"

There is a white powder called Neutral Reducer that automatically adjusts any tank water to 7.0 at least for a while it will start wandering around over during the next week or so until your back to where you started. When doing a water change or in a big bucket mix the appropriate amount as stated on the package into the water along with something to de-clorinate the water like Prime. Stir it VERY well. This stuff tends to clump like salt. Try to match the water temperature as close as possible to your existing water temperature. My city water is over 9, so I have no choice but to adjust. but once something went wrong and we lost half our fish and we were using this. Mix it in the water carefully you don't want to hit some fish in the gills with it.

There are also too other bottles to buy if you just want to play chemist: both made by API One is PHup the other is PHdown. They should be added very carefully. Do you have a battery operated PH meter? if not this could take all day. You know a fish lives in all sorts of different ph's in it's life especially with the damage we are doing to our environment - that is why this is a pointless and DANGEROUS game you are wanting to play. Next maybe you should try pouring in ammonia and see how high you can get it before the poor fish dies - I'm sorry but endless pointless PH changes are cruel to me.

 

[mbsqw1d]

Do you know the GH and KH of your water? This is usually posted online by your water supplier.

 

[Essjay]

I agree. GH (hardness) is more important than pH for fish. If the water is hard, it will resist any attempts to change the pH, natural or chemical.