Refresh my memory? safe way to stabilize pH

[brittanykluss]

While fishless cycling a new tank. My pH in my 20 gallon is kinda high, whats something I can do to stabilize it.

 

[picture_117]

As far as I know, Driftwood will bring down your pH.
Other than that someone with more experience can help you lol.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

coral sand. It contains calcium carbonate which will harden your pH.

 

[brittanykluss]

Does it need to be put in something like a panty hose or just sprinkled on there. and how much

edit : and what brand can i buy?

 

[Bubble_B0y]

you can put it in a panty hose and place it in the filter,
or mix it with your gravel/substrate.

1-2 pounds should be sufficient for a 20 gallon.

 

[brittanykluss]

What brand do you suggest and can I get it at petsmart/petco?

 

[eco23]

If the pH is high there's nothing to worry about during cycling. It's when you have LOW pH / alkalinity that there's the concern of pH crashes and fluctuations. I wouldn't concern myself with it at all at this stage unless the pH is at a dramatically extreme level.

 

[brittanykluss]

If the pH is high there's nothing to worry about during cycling. It's when you have LOW pH / alkalinity that there's the concern of pH crashes and fluctuations. I wouldn't concern myself with it at all at this stage unless the pH is at a dramatically extreme level.

But didnt you recommend something that you could keep in your tank/filter that would stabilize it

 

[eco23]

But didnt you recommend something that you could keep in your tank/filter that would stabilize it

That's for people with very low pH / kH / GH. The fact your pH is high shows your levels of those things are all high and of no concern.

Using something like crushed coral or aragonite sand only further increases hardness and alkalinity, and if anything will further raise your pH.

 

[jcolon]

That's for people with very low pH / kH / GH. The fact your pH is high shows your levels of those things are all high and of no concern.

Using something like crushed coral or aragonite sand only further increases hardness and alkalinity, and if anything will further raise your pH.

+1 with Eco23 ... what is your current pH? I don't see it posted in this thread so far. What you consider high maybe ok.

Higher pH like yours generally means hard water ... usually groundwater ... that has good buffering so pH swings are unlikely.