Safest Way To Raise Ph?

[campbellmay]

I've been having some problems with low pH in my 20 gallon. Despite the addition of marine salt, the pH level sat around 6.4 from the first time I tested it. I added some pH stabilizing fizzy tablets, but they made my water cloudy and I suspect they were responsible for the death of one of my platies.

The pH has been sitting around 6.8 now, but I'm still having a problem with adding new platies (3 platies I've added to the tank have died mysteriously within 24 hours of getting them). The strange thing is, 4 of the platies and all of my mollies seem to be perfectly happy in the tank. I know that most livebearers can adjust to lower pH levels, but I think the sudden change between the LFS water and mine is what is killing some of the new fish.

So I'm wondering...is the pH indeed my problem? If so, what is the safest, most unobtrusive way for me to raise and maintain the pH to a more ideal level? I'd rather not add chemicals, if at all possible, as I don't really trust them after the fizzy tablets. But maybe I just used the wrong thing.

My water stats are as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Hardness: 300
Alkalinity: 80
pH: 6.8

Thanks for any tips you guys can offer.

 

[xJake]

What are you using to test your water as many strip test kits give false pH readings. Also, adding the pH stabilizing fizzy tablets probably did kill you platy but because a change in pH that quickly can cause pH shock and kill your fish and it probably wasn't because of the product. To raise the pH in your tank you could add pH buffering decor such as a crushed coral substrate or adding some crushed coral to your filter. Also, you can add buffering rock such as limestone or dead coral. (look here for more detail). The reason your platies are dying when you buy new ones is probably because they're going into pH shock because they're being kept at a higher pH at the store (depending on if the store knows how to care for them). How do you acclimate them? they'll most certainly go into shock if you don't do a drip acclimation when going from the high pH they're probably kept at to the pH in your tank. The only sure way to know if pH is your problem is to test your store's pH. Also, shop around, it may just be that your lfs got in a bad shipment that something may have happened to during handling (extreme heat or cold can cause shock and psychological damage. Post your stocking levels in the tank as well (how many and what kinds of fish).

 

[campbellmay]

Yes, I am using strips, and I know they're not the greatest, but they're really all I can afford until the next paycheck comes around. As for the fizzy things, they claimed to raise the pH slowly and safely, and I followed the directions exactly, but I guess it was simply a bad product.

I currently have 3 mollies and 4 platies in the tank, and like I said, they seem perfectly all right. In my experience, mollies are simply hardier fish, and I guess I just got lucky with the platies.

As for acclimating...oops. Funny how I practically read just about every article about fish I could get my hands on, and none of them mentioned acclimating the fish until I googled it just now. The way I've been adding them has been by simply putting the unopened bag into the tank for half an hour (as directed by the LFS) to let the temperature adjust. But that's probably the reason I've been losing so many fish...thank you so much for mentioning it!

I guess a lot of the time you simply have to learn as you go. I'll try the rocks next...hopefully that'll give it the boost it needs. Thanks for the advice!

 

[xJake]

Also, adding a tsp of baking soda per 10 gallons can help to buffer the water. As for acclimation if you don't have a drip acclimation kit you can add 1 cup of your tank water to the bag every 15 minutes or so over the course of an hour to prevent shock. Good luck.

 

[demonmagus]

that isn't recomended because it is hard to keep it stable.

go with the crushed coral in the filter