D.I.Y PH up

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

can you use(is it safe) bicarb of soda from any shop to raise the ph in a tank

[wetmanNY]

Yup. What you've heard so often is actually true, in this case! Go easy.

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

yeah my tap water was 7.6 i think and now its 7.0 or 6.9 i might of read it wrong but still you never know

[Faramir]

Rather than pushing the KH and thus the pH back up, you need to look into why it's dropping.

[ewok]

"the nitrogen cycle" will drop it naturally. acids and softer water are by-products of the cycle......

but: depending on how it's dropping, where you started and how fast it drops might be an indicator of problems. overstocking and poor maintenance or not enuf water changes can cause this to happen pretty rapidly.

what's the original ph of your tap water and how fast does it drop? how often do you do water changes?

baking soda will work, but usually only for a short time. some crushed coral or shells will also help too.

but i do agree i would be looking into why it's happening.......

[Faramir]

I know what usually causes it. My feelings are that if significant changes are occuring water changes should be stepped up to replenish the buffering.

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

i do a water change once a week(30%) and i clean the gravel also but ill look in to it and see

[Faramir]

Try comparing the KH of the tank with the KH of the tap water.