PH Problem....

enchanted

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I have been using the standard PH test in my MarineLand tester. It has been hitting 7.6 and I never thought until today to test it with the high range.....

Currently the PH is at 8.0. Is there an effective cheap, easy method of lowering PH?

Thanks,
 
You can play around with peat moss.

It is a common practice, though, that the aquarist keep fish that are suitable for the tank conditions, instead of changing the conditions to accomodate fish that otherwise cannot live in the new conditions.

Answer, IMO, you should try your hand at cichlids and like fish that can tolerate high pH levels.
 
I intend to do that later, but I also should be able to get the PH down and keep it down..... I can't remember if high is acidic or low is acidic.... :/
 
low is acidic

and if your fish have been fine till now, i woudlnt bother changing the ph, itll probably do more harm than good

you might also want to ask your lfs the pH of their tanks
 
Well, Petsmart said there PH is at 7.8. Liveaquaria lists guppies with a high of 8.0 but danios with a high of 7.0 :huh:
 
Danios live in streams and the like where the pH stays low. Guppies are lakes that can get high. Speculation.
 
My water is naturally high (around 8.4) but all of the fish stores in the area use local water, and all the fish I buy have been acclimated to this water. I have never had a problem because of the pH, and I agree with clutterydrawer: leave it alone if you aren't having problems. Fish need a steady pH more than the right one.
 
Well, if the fish have only been in the lfs for about a week or so, then they are not acclimatized. It takes a few weeks for this to happen. But if the pH doesn't vary, fish can be made to adapt to pH levels different from those of their previous homes.
 
dd, I am guessing zebra danios, since they are amoung the most common. A different site with a zebra danio profile lists their pH range going up to 8.0. In my opinion, the moral of the story is that not all the sites are right, and often are in conflict with one another. This is where some greater research is needed before you buy fish. Danios are usually some of the hardiest fish (a large reason why they have been used as 'cycling fish' for years) and should adjust to a pH of 8.0. Most fish that are not overly sensitive will (I'm thinking something like discus as a good example of a more sensitive fish, maybe some one else could chime in other examples).

But, as have been mentioned above, it is far far far more critical to keep a stable pH, than a specific one.

See, in order for pH down to work, you have to consume all your current water's buffering capability, so at first you will probably have to add a lot. Then when you get the pH where you want it, now there is no buffering to keep it there. So, the pH will drop over time from the nitrogen cycle. And you have to add pH down everytime you do a water change, and match the water change pH with the tank pH otherwise who knows what it will come out at. And, lastly, if the pH is moving around a lot = stressed fish.

So, keep it simple, look to acclimate your fish slowly if the store's condition are different from your tanks, see this link, for example. and keep that pH constant.
 
I understand what everyone is saying and I have researched myself.

For my LiveBearer tank I'm just going to leave it, aside from adding the CO2 for the plants, which from what I understand will lower the PH some.

But the second tank is going to be Discus, hence my worry over PH. What I found was that I should put together a reverse osmosis filter and that would soften the water and lower the PH.
 
Bignose said:
dd, I am guessing zebra danios, since they are amoung the most common. A different site with a zebra danio profile
That other site is vey badly informed
I have picked out this bit as an example with my info in blue.
Main Ecosystem: Swamp Inhabits streams, canals, ditches, ponds and beels. Occurs in slow-moving to stagnant standing water bodies, particularly rice-fields. Common in rivulets at foot hills.
Temperament: Peaceful. The Zebra Danio should be kept in groups. Aggressive unless kept in groups of 5 or more
Diet: Carnivore Omnivoure
Care: Feed with normal or vegetable flakes, or live foods. Keep some finely leaved plants in the tank. Will accept flake floods, pellets and live foods such as bloodworms and daphnia.

God I could pick apart everything that site has said.

ddreams, sorry I think the ph question has been answered so I'l leave this one.
 
I have Tetra's, Angels and German Blue Rams with a PH level of 8.0 No issues at all. They are happy and very active. It's been almost one year too.
 
Good to hear that

You could gradually lower the ph over a few weeks and the fish would be fine

I have the opposite problem my ph is TOO low! :crazy: well was i think its sorted now thanks to calcium plus :thumbs:
 

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