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My pH is around 6.2 Too acidic...Needs to be raised to at least neutral...how should I go about doing this? And why is it so low in the first place?? I work at a pet store so I have access to almost any buffering chemical if needed. It's a community tank w/ cories, tetras, barbs, and a dwarf gourami. Thanksss!

~FF~

PS- All other levels are normal, the pH is the only thing giving me a problem...and recently I lost two pandas several days apart

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Don't quote me on this, as I'm not quite sure, but adding a rock or two is supposed to raise the pH of a tank, right? Maybe baking soda as well? I know that raises kH, but pH is supposed to go up, too. That's the extent of my knowledge on the subject, but I hope that helps you some.

Last edited by sirbooks at 07-Oct-2004 17:44

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Driftwood will lower ph, if this tank has driftwood in it that's likely the cause...even after soaking driftwood still tends to lower ph.

Chemicals don't work.....I wouldnt' rely on them. Crushed coral in your filter may help some. Of course shifting the ph is always a slight risk...best to leave it alone if possible.

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*

Yea Babe this is the tank that I siliconed the DW that I picked up on vacation. I got it tested about 2 weeks ago and had the same condition, and left it alone, which is why I'm scared too again. After I had the two cory deaths I suspected something might be up...and the cories didn't appear to have any other symptoms, although the 2nd one might have been killed from the ammonia from the first one. *shrugs* ahhh...

Last edited by ferretfanatic at 07-Oct-2004 18:02

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Driftwood is the culprit. Decided action: add a few rocks to see if it balances out back to a more neutral and tolerable pH.

><>Dani<><

Tanks with natural stone/pebble substrate usually have a higher pH...

Older tanks that have been in operation for a few years also suffer from dropping pH, a reaction called "old tank syndrome".

An excess of waste in the tank will drive the pH lower also.

Additives, as mentioned, are not recommended. I don't believe drift wood alone can drive the pH down to that level. Most drift wood loses its tannin content after awhile and becomes neutral.

Crushed coral added to the substrate has a definate effect on pH as it starts to dissolve.

Low pH, in most cases, has no effect on trops. In fact, many species just love a rather acidic water.

--garyroland.

Any carbonate based rocks will help to raise the KH and pH of your water. You can place crushed shells/coral, limestone or marble in the substrate or in the filter, and they will increase the hardness and the buffering ability of the water.

The fish you have in your tank will be fine with a low pH, usually it is a shift in pH which is harmful to fish. But a slightly higher pH would be safer if you can manage to get to that level slowly and steadily.

I suggest adding little amounts of crushed coral to your filter or substrate every 5 days or so, and keep an eye on the pH and KH levels.

-- Gomer

Hi,
I am concerned about the phrase "siliconed the dw."
Depending upon the amount of silicone that you used,
it still could be giving off acetic acid as it is still
curing. The Acetic Acid will drive your pH well into
the "6s". As Gary said, once the drift wood becomes
waterlogged, the release of Tannic Acid tapers off
to next to nothing and would no longer influence the
pH.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well...the siliconed dw set for over 48 hours before I put it in the tank. And I boiled the DW beforehand and got absolutely no tannins in the tank afterwards. *shrugs*

The question now...should I just leave it alone or make an effort to raise it? If the black phantoms/goldbarbs/pandas/d.gourami like it I don't see it as a problem...*ponders*

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

There isn't a need to tamper with the pH unless your fish really need it. The phantoms and pandas prefer a lower pH, and the gourami and barbs can handle it. Just keep it the way it is, the less you mess with, the better.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

"Just keep it the way it is" - I would say only if it is coming out of your tap at this PH. If not, I personally would want to determine the cause of this drop in case it was harmful to the fish..

x

Edit: Meaning, in case the cause is harmful, rather than the PH level being harmful

Last edited by Malaikah at 08-Oct-2004 16:22

Acetic acid (a.k.a. vinegar) is quite weak, but yeah it could lower the pH. But i doubt it is that.

So what is your KH?

-- Gomer