Lowering Ph

[Araxen]

Currently I have a 15 US Gallon tank with a marineland bio-wheel filter and have a very high PH reading of 8.2 and I'm trying to lowering it. If put 1 gallon of RO water in with my weekly 3 gallon water change will that work to lower the ph of my water?

I have a couple of loaches and some tigers barbs in there atm and I think the ph needs to be lowered on the water. All my other readings are fine atm, except the ph of the water.

 

[Marcos]

Not sure for certain but I think I read on here that bogwood may lower your ph.

 

[BigIan]

you can get chemicals that lower the ph of your tank, you can also use peat in your filter, this is especialy good if you have live plants

 

[Bloo]

Is your tank still cycling - or fully cycled ? pH often drops a bit and settles once the tank is fully cycled and mature.

Do your best to avoid chemicals to lower your pH - this more often than not, causes pH fluctuations - which is not good or even dangerous for the fish.

Bogwood can (over time) help to lower your pH a bit - as can peat moss.

 

[Fat Boy]

Agree with Bloo, chemicals are not the way I'd go, bogwood would help. What's the ph of your tap water?

If you can't lower your ph naturally why not instead of getting the water to suit your fish get fish to suit your water? There's lots of really nice fish that thrive in higher ph.

 

[Araxen]

Agree with Bloo, chemicals are not the way I'd go, bogwood would help. What's the ph of your tap water?

If you can't lower your ph naturally why not instead of getting the water to suit your fish get fish to suit your water? There's lots of really nice fish that thrive in higher ph.

My tank is fully cycled. Right now i have fish and do need to lower it so matching up fish to the ph isn't an option atm.

 

[Bloo]

Add some bogwood and peat then. You will risk your fish's lives by going the chemical route. That said, my own tap pH is anything from 7.4 - 8.4 (depending on what my water supplier feels like pumping into the pipes and time of year) and all my fish do just fine. I avoid fish like Rams and neons though, as they need soft acidic water - which I don't have.

 

[BigIan]

depending if you want to go down the planted tank route aswell co2 does lower the ph of the tank water....


might not be your thing but its an idea