Need To Lower My Ph

[McCool]

What are some good ways to lower my PH? It's about 8 in my 55 gallon. Is there something I can put in my filter? I know many say that it's better to have it steady, but I'm worried about my Rams....

 

[DrRob]

There are all sorts of ways, all of them have their issues. Depends a lot on what is coming out of the tap, assuming that that's hard and alkaline then it's tough (always worth leaving tap water for 24 hours before testing, as the pressurised gases from the supply will escape then, giving you a much more accurate reading as to what ends up in the tank).

The most reliable way is to change the water. RO and such like works for this. Hard, alkaline water has a higher mineral content than soft, acid stuff, so adding more things will lower the numbers but won't change so much overall.

Peat and wood will lower pH, but you've got to watch pH swings at water change time when you add a fresh batch of alkaline water to the tank.

Now if your tap water isn't hard, alkaline stuff you really need to go looking for what you have in the tank that is raising the pH. Generally rocks and substrate.

 

[McCool]

There are all sorts of ways, all of them have their issues. Depends a lot on what is coming out of the tap, assuming that that's hard and alkaline then it's tough (always worth leaving tap water for 24 hours before testing, as the pressurised gases from the supply will escape then, giving you a much more accurate reading as to what ends up in the tank).

The most reliable way is to change the water. RO and such like works for this. Hard, alkaline water has a higher mineral content than soft, acid stuff, so adding more things will lower the numbers but won't change so much overall.

Peat and wood will lower pH, but you've got to watch pH swings at water change time when you add a fresh batch of alkaline water to the tank.

Now if your tap water isn't hard, alkaline stuff you really need to go looking for what you have in the tank that is raising the pH. Generally rocks and substrate.

I'll test my tap water tomorrow. The substrate is sand, however I do have a large rock that could be causing it. I have a piece of wood in there, and plan on getting more. In all honesty, I'd probably get rid of the Rams before I did RO. The Rams aren't showing any signals of stress, but they still worry me..

 

[the_lock_man]

I suspect that the wood won't do anything, because if you have high pH, it's likely you also have high KH (ie hardness) and hardwater buffers its pH so well, nothing budges it.

If you are serious about getting rid of the rams, then get rid of the plants as well, put a load of rocks in, and go for Malawi Cichlids. That way, you won't have to worry about your pH, as Malawis like a high pH. I have a high pH and KH, I just don't have room for a tank large enough for Malawis.

 

[McCool]

I suspect that the wood won't do anything, because if you have high pH, it's likely you also have high KH (ie hardness) and hardwater buffers its pH so well, nothing budges it.

If you are serious about getting rid of the rams, then get rid of the plants as well, put a load of rocks in, and go for Malawi Cichlids. That way, you won't have to worry about your pH, as Malawis like a high pH. I have a high pH and KH, I just don't have room for a tank large enough for Malawis.

I love the look of the Malawis, but after spending over a 100 bucks on lights and hours of research, I really can't back out of my planted tank now.
I'll get rid of the rams if I have to, and just stay away from fish that are finicky about they're water. Too bad, the Rams are fun little fish.