Would Like To Lower Ph

[mr130gallon]

currently i put a bit of peat in my external filter in a sock (got the idea from a website) is there any other way i can lower the ph? i have pea gravel as the substrate, and it raises the ph, so it will be a constant battle. i was thinking of making a small external filter and filling it with peat.

how do other people lower their ph?

 

[anwhyte]

currently i put a bit of peat in my external filter in a sock (got the idea from a website) is there any other way i can lower the ph? i have pea gravel as the substrate, and it raises the ph, so it will be a constant battle. i was thinking of making a small external filter and filling it with peat.

how do other people lower their ph?

adding bogwood can have an effect in lowering pH/softening water. I believe there are conditioners you can buy specifically to lower or raise pH levels.

 

[drobbyb]

If the substrate is causing the pH to rise, you shuld remove it. Peat and bogwood will have a minimal effect as long as that substrate is there.

 

[fatheadminnow]

What is your pH level? You should have a read here, http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=307725, to see if you really need to lower it.

-FHM

 

[mr130gallon]

its only 7.6 which i dont think is incredibly bad, and ill try changing the substrate, if i change it then ill need to take everything out, technically not the fish as they will move out of the way, but should i move them to my little 15 gallon while i change the substrate?

and also, the pea gravel raises the ph to 7.6 but doesnt raise it any more after that.

 

[discus_lover]

Lowering the pH is a more extensive task. If you simply add a product such as “pH Down” this will not work. Your buffering system will simply very quickly raise the pH back to its original state. You must remove the buffering ions from your tap water so that you may lower the pH. The best way to accomplish this is to purchase a Tap Water Purifier unit. These units filter the water from your faucet using an ion exchange resin. The resulting water is free of the salts and minerals which buffer your water. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals makes a nice compact Tap Water Purifier specifically designed for aquarium use. This is the only reliable method I know of to reduce the buffering ability of your aquarium water and to lower pH. Without purified water, you may be able to lower your pH for a day or two, but without first removing the buffering ions your pH will climb again to natural levels. This fluctuation in pH is much worse than having the wrong pH to begin with. As an additional option, I should mention that many hobbyists use peat to soften their water. By running peat in your power filter, or by placing a layer of peat under your gravel, you will soften your water. This technique can work well, but is more complicated, less predictable, and probably best avoided by the inexperienced hobbyist.