Adjusting pH

cweber

cweber

AC Members
Dec 12, 2006
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Oklahoma
Hello everyone. I have a 55g, lightly planted tank. I have neons,glowlights, and serpae tetras, a pleco, and an angel. My question is my pH is around 8 and i want it to be about 7. Im sure that changing it at once isnt good for my plants or fish, so what would be the best way to go about lowering it.

Thanks
Cory
 
peat filter inserts are the safest way.

you might want to lose the pleco.
 
what species of pleco do you have?
 
What is the reason on why you want to change it?

The fish will prefer a stable pH vice a chnging one, as they can adjust to a pH that is not quoted as their ideal. Most fish are raised in what ever is available locally. There are a few cases where it may come into play.

Peat and driftwood will do it, but generally there isn't any need to.
 
I grow them out for a friend who has a pet store. I keep them for a while and trade in for a smaller one, and he has customers who pay more for big ones.

Is that filter like the recharable sofner pillows?
 
yeah, but like rb said you don't really need it. all your fish hasve been bred in captivity and can adapt to your hard water.
 
wow thanks for the fast replys.

So just because a book says they need this, it doesnt mean they wont live in it?
The reason i want to change it is i would like to learn to keep better quality water for discus in the future. Ive been keeping fish for 3or4 years and never worried about the levels in the water. I just found what i liked and put it in and never had a lot of probs. But as i read and study, some sources make it sound like it has to be this or that or the fish wont survive.
 
cweber said:
wow thanks for the fast replys.

So just because a book says they need this, it doesnt mean they wont live in it?
The reason i want to change it is i would like to learn to keep better quality water for discus in the future. Ive been keeping fish for 3or4 years and never worried about the levels in the water. I just found what i liked and put it in and never had a lot of probs. But as i read and study, some sources make it sound like it has to be this or that or the fish wont survive.
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thy'll be a bit more happier i'd say in softer water, but they can and will adapt to hard water.
 
Discus raised in a harder water will do fine in the hard water. it may not be true for wild caught.

the issue you would need to address concerning pH is if you want to successfully breed the Discus..in this case..if this happens you will need to consider lowering the pH the minerals in hard water will affect the permeability of the eggs and can stop successful fertilization.
if you just want to have fish..you will be fine.

btw..using ro water for breeding is the norm for some species. then add buffers to the water for the fish.
 
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