Best way to lower pH?

[thewarning]

I tested my tap water and has a 7.6 pH. I want my pH to be in the range of 6 -6.5. Are buffers the best/only option in this case? Are they stressful on fish?

[Weezer]

Yes they are stressful, Driftwood will lower PH some, why do you need to lower it...What is the PH of your tank water, its probably not the same.....

[hitman12131976]

Neutral Regulator helps to keep your pH at about 7.0. But it doesn't guarantee that it will lower the pH to 7.0, it will just keep it there once you get it there. There are products from API called pH-Down that can help lower it. But your fish should be able to adapt to the higher pH, I think. You may not need to buy anything to help that pH. Also, 7.6 isn't too bad.

[Mgamer20o0]

first of all why do you want to lower it?

[hitman12131976]

pH of 6 - 6.5? Must be Tetras.

[Mgamer20o0]

pH of 6 - 6.5? Must be Tetras.

there are other fish which are caught in ph that low. its just most of the time there is no need to lower it.

[echoofformless]

Not often a need to lower it per se, but it surely is beneficial to acidic/blackwater fish if you do.

Thing is, the only truly safe and reliable way to soften water and acidify it is with peat filtration and/or adding driftwood. Many people don't like the amber tint that it gives the water.

Personally I love it. It enhances the natural colors, behavior, and vitality of the fish. It also seems to benefit certain plants. Lastly, it is a natural antifungal/antibacterial agent. I have found that my blackwater tanks are a bit more stable and healthy than my non-blackwater tanks. I also like the earthy, yet strangely refreshing scent that it gives off.

Stay away from chemical additives and buffers altogether. But if you do decide to try out the process of peat filtration, be aware that it takes a good amount of forehand knowledge, water testing, and lots of trial and error to get it just "right." So make sure that lowering your pH is something that you are very serious about doing before you embark upon what is practically whole school of fishkeeping unto itself - blackwater aquariums.

[KateCB]

the advice I was given abuot PH was that without using checmicals which are not good for your fish stocks, there is little you can do; obviously the peat/driftwood method works, but if you want crystal clear water its not gonna happen! I was told to find out the PH of my water and then stock accordingly.......my pH is 7.2, I have a variety of fish (check my profile for the lists!) and they are all fine!

[Weezer]

the advice I was given abuot PH was that without using checmicals which are not good for your fish stocks, there is little you can do; obviously the peat/driftwood method works, but if you want crystal clear water its not gonna happen! I was told to find out the PH of my water and then stock accordingly.......my pH is 7.2, I have a variety of fish (check my profile for the lists!) and they are all fine!

Haveing driftwood in a tank does not mean that the water will have tannis, i use alot of DW and my water is crystal clear....I do however run charcoal in the canister, that makes a big difference......

[thewarning]

I plan to keep discus and they need a pH of 6-7. There is a produsct called discus buffer which Im sure does the job but again Im worried about creating osmotic stress on them. I guess filtering with peat and maybe combining tap and distilled water (pH6) will be safer.

[Weezer]

The PH will be just fine, check this out, http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=834 the fish will be better off if no chemicals like buffers are added, Discus need multiple water changes a week and warm water.......

:dance2:

[PDX-PLT]

I plan to keep discus and they need a pH of 6-7.

Go over to simplydiscus.com and you'll find people successfully keeping tank-raised discus in pH as high as 8.0. Supposedly they do just fine.

Now breeading is a different matter, as the eggs apparently do need the acidic water.

[J double R]

Haveing driftwood in a tank does not mean that the water will have tannis, i use alot of DW and my water is crystal clear....I do however run charcoal in the canister, that makes a big difference......

actually, it DOES mean that the water is going to have tannins.. to my knowledge there is no such thing as real wood that DOESNT have tannins, and it would take some extreme measures to leach every bit of tannic acid out of the wood.

tannic acid can exist in the water without discoloring it, ie. very small amounts. i use DW in my tanks with no carbon at all and my water is clear. :) you cant tell me there are absolutely NO tannins in my water.

[Mgamer20o0]

there are absolutely NO tannins in my water j double r........ i said it.....

o well truth or not to get back to the point. discus should be fine in that water.