how do I lower my ph? - Aquarium Advice

snipes287 · 06-14-2005, 03:41 PM

hey I just set my tank up yesterday and put rocks in it. the [acronym:539aef5fdd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:539aef5fdd] yesterday was 8.2 and today it is 8.4. I heard someone saying that someone had drift wood that was sucking their [acronym:539aef5fdd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:539aef5fdd] down. is this what drift wood does? What should I do to lower my [acronym:539aef5fdd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:539aef5fdd]?

Lepomis · 06-14-2005, 06:18 PM

I came to the conclusion that I would just live with it. My water is 8.4 and my fish are doing fine. Do a search and their is a lot of discussion: reverse osmosis, peat, drift wood, and just say no the chemicals.

mentallylost · 06-14-2005, 06:56 PM

What kind of fish are you keeping? Some species need a higher [acronym:86e550488f="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:86e550488f] than others.

snipes287 · 06-14-2005, 09:24 PM

im not sure what im going to be keeping yet. I would like some shrimp, bamboo, and ghosties, pleco's, cats, bala sharks, angles, barbs, i really am not sure at this point in time.

got any suggestions?

mentallylost · 06-14-2005, 09:39 PM

African cichlids prefer high [acronym:02397f3d43="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:02397f3d43] levels. If you tell us the size tank, we can help with a more specific fish list for you to look at.

**QTOFFER** · 06-15-2005, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snipes287

hey I just set my tank up yesterday and put rocks in it.

What kind of rocks?

Some rocks, like limestone, can raise the pH.

Also, what test kit are your using? The strip kits can be off by a few tenths of a pH unit. The liquid kits are much more accurate. I would also test your tapwater - let it sit in a glass for a few hours before testing.

Fortunately, most fish are quite adaptable and forgiving where pH is concerned - it's fluctuations that they will not tolerate. So, don't ever consider using [acronym:3bf5899f30="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:3bf5899f30] up/down chemicals, or you will subject your fish to yo-yo pH levels. If your [acronym:3bf5899f30="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:3bf5899f30] uses the same water as you, then you really shouldn't have a problem.

Driftwood will lower your pH a bit (by maybe 0.5 - 1.0 pH unit). So will peat, which you can place in your filter. These methods will lower the pH gradually, and will not result in fluctuations.

06-15-2005, 02:06 AM

Driftwood can leach tannic acid which will make your water more acidic. My driftwood lowered my pH from 7.8 to 6.8 over a period of a month. But you have to be prepared for the coloring effects of the tannic acid, which im dealing with now. Also ive heard if you have softer water it will be more acidic and hard water tends to be more alkaline. I put a water softener pillow in my filter and they may also have had some effect on my pH.. who knows. I wasn't really trying to adjust my pH i was just softening the water for some of my plants and i like the look of real driftwood.

The main thing to remember is large pH swings can cause serious stress to the fish, and during stressful times the fish are more prone to disease. THe main thing is to maintain a constant pH and a constant environment (i should follow my own advice right.. lol

)

[acronym:3b2064876e="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:3b2064876e]

jersysman · 06-15-2005, 03:32 AM

I have a feeling it was just the water settling in. Most of the time, you have to let tap water sit for 24 hours to get the true [acronym:b36aa2e68b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] of the water. So, you will probably be working with a -h of 8.4, which cichlids will love. As mentioned above, some rocks will also raise the [acronym:b36aa2e68b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] of the water. Let us know how big your tank is and what kind of fish that you are interested in.

By the way, my water is liquid rock ([acronym:b36aa2e68b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] of about 8.6 out of the tap) so in my other tanks (not my cichlid tank), I use [acronym:b36aa2e68b="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] water. That is also a possibility for you.

snipes287 · 06-15-2005, 04:06 AM

my tank is 55 [acronym:134927e2d5="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:134927e2d5] and the rocks that im using are just normal aquarium gravel stuff that I got in the 25lbs bags from the [acronym:134927e2d5="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:134927e2d5]. I havent tested my tap straight yet but ill put a bowl out tonight and let it set all day tomorrow. also, what is this "peat" that you talk of.

ohh, and the test kit im using is the aquarium pharmaceuticals master kit

as far as the fish's go im not really sure but im thinking somewhere around:some shrimp, bamboo, and ghosties, plecos, cats, bala sharks, angles, barbs, those cook knife fish guys, but im really not sure at this point in time.

06-14-2005, 03:41 PM	#1
snipes287 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Ca Posts: 35	how do I lower my ph? hey I just set my tank up yesterday and put rocks in it. the [acronym:539aef5fdd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:539aef5fdd] yesterday was 8.2 and today it is 8.4. I heard someone saying that someone had drift wood that was sucking their [acronym:539aef5fdd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:539aef5fdd] down. is this what drift wood does? What should I do to lower my [acronym:539aef5fdd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:539aef5fdd]?

06-15-2005, 03:32 AM	#8
jersysman Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 186	I have a feeling it was just the water settling in. Most of the time, you have to let tap water sit for 24 hours to get the true [acronym:b36aa2e68b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] of the water. So, you will probably be working with a -h of 8.4, which cichlids will love. As mentioned above, some rocks will also raise the [acronym:b36aa2e68b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] of the water. Let us know how big your tank is and what kind of fish that you are interested in. By the way, my water is liquid rock ([acronym:b36aa2e68b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] of about 8.6 out of the tap) so in my other tanks (not my cichlid tank), I use [acronym:b36aa2e68b="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:b36aa2e68b] water. That is also a possibility for you. __________________ Do not let anyone ever tell you that you cannot accomplish something. VOTE NOW FOR AQUARIUM ADVICE!!!

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06-14-2005, 06:18 PM	#2
Lepomis Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 335	I came to the conclusion that I would just live with it. My water is 8.4 and my fish are doing fine. Do a search and their is a lot of discussion: reverse osmosis, peat, drift wood, and just say no the chemicals.

06-14-2005, 06:56 PM	#3
mentallylost Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington Posts: 289 Images: 6	What kind of fish are you keeping? Some species need a higher [acronym:86e550488f="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:86e550488f] than others.

06-14-2005, 09:24 PM	#4
snipes287 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Ca Posts: 35	im not sure what im going to be keeping yet. I would like some shrimp, bamboo, and ghosties, pleco's, cats, bala sharks, angles, barbs, i really am not sure at this point in time. got any suggestions?

06-14-2005, 09:39 PM	#5
mentallylost Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington Posts: 289 Images: 6	African cichlids prefer high [acronym:02397f3d43="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:02397f3d43] levels. If you tell us the size tank, we can help with a more specific fish list for you to look at.

06-15-2005, 02:06 AM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	Driftwood can leach tannic acid which will make your water more acidic. My driftwood lowered my pH from 7.8 to 6.8 over a period of a month. But you have to be prepared for the coloring effects of the tannic acid, which im dealing with now. Also ive heard if you have softer water it will be more acidic and hard water tends to be more alkaline. I put a water softener pillow in my filter and they may also have had some effect on my pH.. who knows. I wasn't really trying to adjust my pH i was just softening the water for some of my plants and i like the look of real driftwood. The main thing to remember is large pH swings can cause serious stress to the fish, and during stressful times the fish are more prone to disease. THe main thing is to maintain a constant pH and a constant environment (i should follow my own advice right.. lol ) [acronym:3b2064876e="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:3b2064876e]

06-15-2005, 04:06 AM	#9
snipes287 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Ca Posts: 35	my tank is 55 [acronym:134927e2d5="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:134927e2d5] and the rocks that im using are just normal aquarium gravel stuff that I got in the 25lbs bags from the [acronym:134927e2d5="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:134927e2d5]. I havent tested my tap straight yet but ill put a bowl out tonight and let it set all day tomorrow. also, what is this "peat" that you talk of. ohh, and the test kit im using is the aquarium pharmaceuticals master kit as far as the fish's go im not really sure but im thinking somewhere around:some shrimp, bamboo, and ghosties, plecos, cats, bala sharks, angles, barbs, those cook knife fish guys, but im really not sure at this point in time.