PH Problems - Aquarium Advice

Hilroy50 · 06-25-2004, 09:05 PM

I know there are lots of threads on [acronym:a8ae3944d4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:a8ae3944d4], but I was hoping I could get some suggestions. I measured my [acronym:a8ae3944d4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] tonight and it was around 8.6. I currently have one Hagen [acronym:a8ae3944d4="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] unit going and about to add another. Should I add peat to my filter?? I just don't like the tea colour of the water. If I add peat, how much should I add? I have a 33 [acronym:a8ae3944d4="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a8ae3944d4]. My [acronym:a8ae3944d4="Carbonate Hardness"]kh[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] is around 180ppm. Is there a way to take the colouration out once the water is softened and the [acronym:a8ae3944d4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] is down?? I want to avoid chemicals. Thanks.

chasgood · 06-25-2004, 09:34 PM

Is 8.6 the [acronym:d002e3efb3="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:d002e3efb3] of your tap water too?

Hilroy50 · 06-26-2004, 09:16 AM

The [acronym:7159a15af6="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7159a15af6] of my tap water is about 7.2-7.4 right out of the tap. I've never let it sit to measure it, but it must really be close to 7.6-7.8.

Maillis · 06-26-2004, 10:55 AM

What kind of substrate are you using and do you have any sort of rock decorations? For your pH to be that high something in the tank must be raising it.

Hilroy50 · 06-26-2004, 03:26 PM

I have regular aquarium gravel and 2 older pieces of driftwood.

krap101 · 06-26-2004, 03:30 PM

maybe from the evaporation the hardness stayed in there and if you just added new water without changing any then it would make it harder? sry 2 ask but how and when do you do your water changes?

grimlock3000 · 06-26-2004, 03:30 PM

Well to put it simply, there is something in the tank or water affecting the [acronym:322d353bf5="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:322d353bf5]. What type of gravel are you using? What do you use for water additives?

Menagerie · 06-27-2004, 01:34 AM

Try this: leave a cup of tap water in a glass over night and then measure pH. If you have an airpump, leaving an airstone in the glass is an even better way to get rid of the gasses in the water and you will be able to get an accurate measurement of the pH in the tap water.

shawmutt · 06-28-2004, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Should I add peat to my filter??

[acronym:77727417a3="In My Experience"]IME[/acronym:77727417a3], peat doesn't affect the pH very much.

Quote:

Is there a way to take the colouration out once the water is softened and the [acronym:77727417a3="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:77727417a3] is down??

Carbon filter

Quote:

I currently have one Hagen [acronym:77727417a3="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:77727417a3] unit going and about to add another.

Be careful if you are going to adjust the hardness of your water when using [acronym:77727417a3="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:77727417a3], lowering hardness affects the buffers and you may experience a pH crash.

The only way I have been able to keep the pH under control in my tank is by using store-bought [acronym:77727417a3="Reverse osmosis"]ro[/acronym:77727417a3] water and adding electrolytes to get the desired pH. Do what Menagerie suggested, and let us know the results.

Hilroy50 · 06-28-2004, 08:53 PM

Thanks everyone. I think this is going to be a battle. After 48hrs, my [acronym:c8a8717527="Carbonate Hardness"]kh[/acronym:c8a8717527] is down to about 6.0, but as Shawmutt says, the [acronym:c8a8717527="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c8a8717527] is not coming down. I have to do what Menagerie says. I removed the [acronym:c8a8717527="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:c8a8717527] unit at the same time as adding the Peat. Would there be any benefit in getting municipal water?? I don't think the Lake water is as hard as my well water. I will have to test it.

06-25-2004, 09:05 PM	#1
Hilroy50 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 27	PH Problems I know there are lots of threads on [acronym:a8ae3944d4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:a8ae3944d4], but I was hoping I could get some suggestions. I measured my [acronym:a8ae3944d4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] tonight and it was around 8.6. I currently have one Hagen [acronym:a8ae3944d4="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] unit going and about to add another. Should I add peat to my filter?? I just don't like the tea colour of the water. If I add peat, how much should I add? I have a 33 [acronym:a8ae3944d4="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a8ae3944d4]. My [acronym:a8ae3944d4="Carbonate Hardness"]kh[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] is around 180ppm. Is there a way to take the colouration out once the water is softened and the [acronym:a8ae3944d4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:a8ae3944d4] is down?? I want to avoid chemicals. Thanks.

06-25-2004, 09:34 PM	#2
chasgood Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Moore Oklahoma Posts: 393 Images: 10	Is 8.6 the [acronym:d002e3efb3="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:d002e3efb3] of your tap water too? __________________ 37 GL Setup June 4,2004. Rena Filstar xP1. 55watt [acronym:e159a76288="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:e159a76288] light and glass cover. 6 Tiger Barbs. 6 Aponogeton bulbs, 2 water lillys. 5 Serpae Tetra. Brichardi, Princess Cichlid. Electric Yellow or Yellow Lab. Clown Pleco. 1 platty. 5 Krib, one the father of the 20L Krib. 20L GL2 Sept,2004 setup. Powerfilter and biowheel built into the Eclipse hood. 6 Zebra Danios 6 Kribs. all born in the tank. Update 19 June 2005. Noticed new Krib fry. guess they werent all males.

06-26-2004, 10:55 AM	#4
Maillis Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 176 Images: 4	What kind of substrate are you using and do you have any sort of rock decorations? For your pH to be that high something in the tank must be raising it. __________________ 55 Gallon Community - 2 Bala Sharks - 1 Sailfin Pleco - 30-40 Zebra Danios - 7 Orange Von Rio Tetras - 3 Otos - 1 Bamboo Shrimp 20 Gallon Menagerie - 4 German Blue Rams (2 Males, 2 Females) - 1 Dwarf Puffer - 1 Clown Pleco - 1 Candy Stripe Goby 5 Gallon Eclipse - 1 Female Betta - 2 Otos - 1 Ghost Shrimp

06-26-2004, 03:30 PM	#6
krap101 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Roscoe, IL Posts: 3,824 Images: 12	maybe from the evaporation the hardness stayed in there and if you just added new water without changing any then it would make it harder? sry 2 ask but how and when do you do your water changes? __________________ Wizards first rule-People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true. Wizards second rule-The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. Wizards third rule-Passion rules reason. Wizards fourth rule-There is magic in forgiveness the magic to heal! In the forgiveness you grant, and more so in the forgiveness you receive. Wizards fifth rule-Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie. Wizards sixth rule-The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason. Wizards seventh rule-Life is the future, not the past Wizards eighth rule-Deserve victory. Wizards ninth rule-Contradictions don't exist, in whole or in part.

06-26-2004, 03:30 PM	#7
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	Well to put it simply, there is something in the tank or water affecting the [acronym:322d353bf5="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:322d353bf5]. What type of gravel are you using? What do you use for water additives? __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

06-26-2004, 09:16 AM	#3
Hilroy50 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 27	The [acronym:7159a15af6="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7159a15af6] of my tap water is about 7.2-7.4 right out of the tap. I've never let it sit to measure it, but it must really be close to 7.6-7.8.

06-26-2004, 03:26 PM	#5
Hilroy50 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 27	I have regular aquarium gravel and 2 older pieces of driftwood.

06-27-2004, 01:34 AM	#8
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,246 Images: 77	Try this: leave a cup of tap water in a glass over night and then measure pH. If you have an airpump, leaving an airstone in the glass is an even better way to get rid of the gasses in the water and you will be able to get an accurate measurement of the pH in the tap water. __________________

06-28-2004, 08:53 PM	#10
Hilroy50 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 27	Thanks everyone. I think this is going to be a battle. After 48hrs, my [acronym:c8a8717527="Carbonate Hardness"]kh[/acronym:c8a8717527] is down to about 6.0, but as Shawmutt says, the [acronym:c8a8717527="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c8a8717527] is not coming down. I have to do what Menagerie says. I removed the [acronym:c8a8717527="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:c8a8717527] unit at the same time as adding the Peat. Would there be any benefit in getting municipal water?? I don't think the Lake water is as hard as my well water. I will have to test it.

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