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How can i raise the ph in my tank?. I do regular water changes & have a piece of limestone in my tank, but the ph is as low as 6.4/6.6.

Thanks alot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

You can put some shell grit in the toe of a pantie hose and then place it in your filter.

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Keith

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I put shell grit in the little box part above the sponge in the internal filter. I didn't think the grit fine enough to fit through the holes and I rinsed the box b4 I put it in the tank.
Result: A very pretty snowstorm. The guppies didn't know what hit them.

Can you please explain a bit more, Keith?.

What's shell grit?. Crushed shells?.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Shell grit is basically just crushed limestone -- it's CaCO3. By crushing it up, you're increasing the surface area to volume ratio, which allows it to dissolve faster. Think about a sugar cube: if you put a sugar cube in one glass of water and an equal mass of granulated sugar in another glass, the granulated sugar will dissolve faster because the water has more surface area to interact with.

Unfortunately, it's not really an exact science when trying to raise pH and KH. It can be pretty easy to overshoot. How high are you trying to get it and why?

Hi,
Actually, "Shell Grit" is ground (crushed) Oyster shells.
This is sold in bulk at any feed-n-seed store to be given
to fowl as "grit" for their gizzards.

It is easily obtained, and can be mixed in with your gravel
or used instead of gravel (looks like heck by itself).

Generally, if you want to maintain your pH in the 8's then
you will need to use either crushed dolomite, crushed
limestone, or crushed coral as a substrate, or at least as
a part of your substrate. Of the three, crushed coral is
the least, best, idea. It is relatively pure Calcium
Carbonate (CaCO3) and does not have the impurities such as
Magnesium, that the dolomite and limestone do that the fish
need for good health. If you insist on using crushed coral
for its sand like appearance, I would also add some
crushed oyster shells to it.

As Joe says, it should be crushed as the surface area of
crushed stone is far larger than the surface area of a
limestone rock. More surface area yields more influence on
the water chemistry.

Frank


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

I suppose I should have clarified. By "basically", I meant that it was comprised of mostly the same elements, not that shell grit was actually ground limestone.

Thank you Frank I had no idea what it is called over there and where it can be bought. I have even seen it in super markets. There are various sizes from 1mm -5mm plus.

The benefit of putting it stocking toe is that it can easily be controlled if you spread it around and use too much it will be a big job to pick each piece one by one and plenty will get buried as well. It does break down and has to be topped up regularly

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

i just use a good quality buffer,7.0,there a few u can get to suit what ph you desire,but great stuff,and alot easyer than adding sheel grit,it comes in powder or liqiud,i swear by,it always keeps my ph,dead on 7.0-netreul

Hi,
Yes, that chemical does work. If you want your water to
be a high pH (8.0, etc.) then pH 7 is not the answer.
Also, the problem with using these chemicals is that you
are forever chained to the constant expense of purchasing
them, and keeping an additional bottle of it just in case
the LFS runs out when you need it.

With the use of natural buffering through carbonate
substrates, or through peat moss (to go acidic) you arn't
held to the constant expense of replacements.

Frank


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

Thanks alot for all reply's.

Well, i already have some pieces of Limestone rock in the tank & I will go & buy some "grit" next week.

Does Bicarbonate of Soda make any difference?.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Yes, sodium bicarbonate will buffer your water. You will probably have to dose regularly, as opposed to leaving a bag of shells in the tank.

As a side note, I believe many fish come from habitats where the waters are around a pH of 6.5. More acidic water is probably not uncommon in tannin-stained habitats.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

In the tanks, i have Tetras & Corydoras, but i prefer to have a ph of 7, than a bit lower. Last year i had a problem with low ph & some of my Corydoras died.

So i'm trying to keep the ph neutral, as much as i can.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Are you sure the low ph caused the death of your cories?
Ph 6.4 / 6.6 is execellent for tetras, and most of the corys wouldn't mind this mild acidic ph at all.

Yes, i'm sure. The ph dropped below 6 & the most delicate ones didn't make it. So from now on i'm monitoring the water regularly & always trying to keep the ph around 7.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com