Ph Up/Down

[tony]

I would like to try and get my Ph down to around 6.8-7.0 and maintain it there. Ph Down tells how much to use per gallon, but how much will it actually lower it? I know this is something I would want to adjust slowly...how much per day or week is o.k. to lower or raise the Ph?

[Aquarius0015]

It's best not to use chemicals when not absolutely necessary. If your ideal pH is not too far off from what it actually is then I would just leave it be. Most fish adjust better to slighty 'off' pH levels than to acid or chemicals in their water. What type of fish do you have and what is your current pH? There are almost always natural alternatives.

[tony]

I would prefer not to use chemicals if possible. The best I can tell from the kit I am at least at 7.2...if not a bit higher. Currently I am keeping an Angel, Neons, and Clown Loaches.

[aquariumfishguy]

May we ask why you feel 7.2 is too high? Infact, most would kill to have a pH of 7.2. Thats almost neutral and just about any fish can thrive in that pH. IMO, I'd leave the pH alone, it does more harm than good to try to change these things...;)

[carpguy]

You're close enough. I wouldn't mess around with the up and down sauce. 7.2 (is that tap or tank?) is fine for neons, angels and clowns. The up and down stuff tends to produce pH swings that are going to stress the fish more than a stable pH that, while it might be a tad high, is within their tolerable range.

Some folks have had some success acidifying their using a peat tea. This is natural but I don't especially see it being stable. RO water mixed with tap would work, but it costs money and isn't really necessary. CO2 (if you're planted) would work. Aside from that, I'd leave it alone.

Folks with very hard or very soft water — the folks at the extremes — need to think about modifying their water or limiting their selection. If your within a few tenths of neutral its not something you really need to worry about.

[tony]

That is tank water, tap is not very far off from that though...I do almost a 30% water change every two weeks in a 30 gallon. With around 10-15 inches of fish.

What is the best course when you need to be right on with your Ph, discus owners for example?

[carpguy]

If I was breeding discus and wanted to be absolutely spot on very low pH I'd probably use some RO water mixed with tap, which would also drive down the level of Total Dissolve Solids and use pressurized CO2 with a pH controller to lock in.

But I think that's nuts.