How To Raise Ph

[FishNMusic]

I have Gone To The beaches In south carolina For A few Years Now And I have picked Up Some Shells While I was done their A few Times. Is It Ok To Add these Shells To raise the Ph Of The Tank For My Brichardi Or Not?


Thanks

[Deb2]

Yes. Just be sure to clean them well.

[FishNMusic]

Is There Any Other Way to Rause Ph For Brichardi Or Daffodils?

[NickH]

The easiest way is too used crushed coral sand (or gravel) as a substrate. Or you could use liberal amounts of limestone or other alkaline promoting rock material for decoration. You could even use dead coral rock, like a saltwater tank. Putting a couple of seashells in there is not really going to do much, unless you have a really small tank.

[Deb2]

I was assuming that you were talking about many shells. Also what is the pH of your tank right now? Crushed coral or shells won't make any difference unless your pH is 8.2 or less. The shells won't dissolve in a 8.2 or higher.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Ooo Ooo! A guy at Big Al's told me the easiest way to raise ph and water hardness is to add baking soda to the water. About 1/2 teaspoon per 10 gallons i think he said. I have a malawi cichlid tank, and i added a teaspoon and a half for my 33 gallons. The ph went straight to 8.0 and the water hardness went up, however it is not where i want it yet, but pretty close.

I have crushed coral in my gravel and it only raised the ph of the water up to 7.4, then it stopped. It probebly takes quite a while to work. Baking soda is easy and fast.

That's what he had been using for his malawi tanks, and since i am buying my fish from him, i figured it was ok. I don't know if the baking soda would affect a fish that hadn't been kept in it before though. Not really sure.

[JSchmidt]

Baking soda will work, but it tends to be harder to control pH (and KH) stably than if you use something that gradually dissolves. Aragonite sand works nicely, either as a substrate or in a filter bag, tucked away in a filter somewhere.

Jim

[FishNMusic]

My Ph Is roughly around 7.0 to 7.5, But Probably closser to 7.0.

[mtdewlover]

Yeah I've done it before. I have crushed coral in a bag you get from the pet store in my filter to help raise my PH. It does pretty good.

[dcallen]

Hello,

I agree, I have a crushed coral Cichlid substrate in my tank along with a healthy dose of limestone rock and my Ph stays at about 8.0 consistently. Good luck, I hope this helps.

[TKOS]

The problem with sea shells is that eventually a biofilm will cover them and they will stop dissolving. Before doing anything it is absolutely important to know not just the pH but also the KH and GH.

[FishNMusic]

Hey Every Thanks For The Feed Back,

Okay Now I have A 33gal Long That Is Rocky Wtih Some Gravel And Some Sand. Now Can I Add The Crush Coral Sand Right Into Or Not. I have @ Brichardi In there hat Might Be Breeding. Also I have A 29 Waiting For SetUp Do I just Put The Crushed Coral In there to?



Thanks Everyone

[FishNMusic]

Anybody Know What A good Ratio For a 33 Gallong Long With Arganite Sand Also, Can I Just Put It In threre With The Fish Still In there Or What. The Fish Are Brichardi.


Thanks Alot Everyone

[marsupialvomit]

dolomite is a good one, taht's what I have in my tank even though its used for saltwater it kicks butt.