Ways Lowering Ph

[SensesFail]

i am currently cycling my tank at the moment so this question is far from urgent. I have an aim of getting a Ph of 6.4 for the required fish i want to keep. Whats the best way of lowering a Ph of 7.4 to 6.4? I understand you can buy chemicals but iv been told they cause massive fluctuations and do more harm than good.

Any hints and tips?

many thanks

 

[PDSimon]

Fish don't really care about pH, rather they prefer a stable pH and carbonate hardness. What fish inparticular are you thinking of?

 

[mark4785]

i am currently cycling my tank at the moment so this question is far from urgent. I have an aim of getting a Ph of 6.4 for the required fish i want to keep. Whats the best way of lowering a Ph of 7.4 to 6.4? I understand you can buy chemicals but iv been told they cause massive fluctuations and do more harm than good.

Any hints and tips?

many thanks

You could try putting peat pellets into a nylon bag and placing that into your filtration system. Peat will induce acidic water. Genuine bog wood will also lower the PH of your water but at a much slower rate.

If you intend to have a planted aquarium, the addition of injected c02 using a c02 system will lower the PH and also the hardness of the water.

Changing the PH is not of importance but if you do wish to change it, either do it very slowly otherwise adapt the PH prior to stocking.

 

[SensesFail]

Fish don't really care about pH, rather they prefer a stable pH and carbonate hardness. What fish inparticular are you thinking of?

I have the aim of keeping discus fish eventually after hrs of research on them.

i am currently cycling my tank at the moment so this question is far from urgent. I have an aim of getting a Ph of 6.4 for the required fish i want to keep. Whats the best way of lowering a Ph of 7.4 to 6.4? I understand you can buy chemicals but iv been told they cause massive fluctuations and do more harm than good.

Any hints and tips?

many thanks

You could try putting peat pellets into a nylon bag and placing that into your filtration system. Peat will induce acidic water. Genuine bog wood will also lower the PH of your water but at a much slower rate.

If you intend to have a planted aquarium, the addition of injected c02 using a c02 system will lower the PH and also the hardness of the water.

Changing the PH is not of importance but if you do wish to change it, either do it very slowly otherwise adapt the PH prior to stocking.

Will peat pellets work effectively? Will they change the coloration of your tank?

 

[PDSimon]

Co2 wouldn't help discus in a discus tank...

I would ask this question in the new world cichlid section, plently of guys there who know what they're doing

Peat, bogwood and almond leaves are used, which will turn the water yellow... whether the addition of them would be necessary I don't know!

 

[Katch]

Hmmm, I'd not recommend messing with your tap water too much. Agree with above - peat, bogwood and almond leaves will help.

Am I right in understanding you are fairly new to fish keeping. I'd definitely recommend you try some easier cichlids and see how you get on before launching into Discus - they are sensitive and require very specific conditions - a well established planted tank.

Also remind me of your tank dimensions.

 

[Carlovel1]

If your area has high pH, then there is nothing that will permanently lower it. As said, Bogwood, Almond Leaves and peat lower the pH, TEMPORARILY

 

[mark4785]

Fish don't really care about pH, rather they prefer a stable pH and carbonate hardness. What fish inparticular are you thinking of?

I have the aim of keeping discus fish eventually after hrs of research on them.

i am currently cycling my tank at the moment so this question is far from urgent. I have an aim of getting a Ph of 6.4 for the required fish i want to keep. Whats the best way of lowering a Ph of 7.4 to 6.4? I understand you can buy chemicals but iv been told they cause massive fluctuations and do more harm than good.

Any hints and tips?

many thanks

You could try putting peat pellets into a nylon bag and placing that into your filtration system. Peat will induce acidic water. Genuine bog wood will also lower the PH of your water but at a much slower rate.

If you intend to have a planted aquarium, the addition of injected c02 using a c02 system will lower the PH and also the hardness of the water.

Changing the PH is not of importance but if you do wish to change it, either do it very slowly otherwise adapt the PH prior to stocking.

Will peat pellets work effectively? Will they change the coloration of your tank?

I have used a peat bag in my outdoor pond and there was no discolouration. When solids come into contact with water they will always shed something; just check the label before you buy any peat to ensure it won't discolour the water too much.

I've heard that peat can change the PH of the water fairly suddenly which isn't a good thing for fish so to prevent this happening you'd need to calculate exactly how much would not induce a fast PH swing and ensure the KH (carbonate hardness) of your water, which prevents the PH from changing quickly and excessively, is at the correct level.

I wouldn't recommend the use of peat in a tropical aquarium since I only have the experience of using it with more hardy outdoor fish.

Mark.

 

[SensesFail]

Hmmm, I'd not recommend messing with your tap water too much. Agree with above - peat, bogwood and almond leaves will help.

Am I right in understanding you are fairly new to fish keeping. I'd definitely recommend you try some easier cichlids and see how you get on before launching into Discus - they are sensitive and require very specific conditions - a well established planted tank.

Also remind me of your tank dimensions.

It's an aquaone evo 100. 100cm width by 55cm high. Some websites say it's too small some say it's fine s