Help! Ph not high enough

[ublasfu]

Hi everyone, i'm using Eco complete planted substrate and the ph is about 7
I really want it to be btwn 7.5-8 but I don't want to use a different substrate
any ideas? Oh yeah the tank is 45 gallons and I have an eheim 2213 if that's any help .... Thanks

 

[fish-n-chips]

Is there any particular reason why you need your ph to be at 7.5-8.0?

 

[jpappy789]

I would like to know as well. I highly doubt you need the pH to be within that range since generally most fish are fine within the 6-9 range.

 

[XanAvaloni]

The problem with jacking around pH (either up or down) is that just when you get it exactly where you want it to be, you goof it up the next time you do a water change. Usual advice is to get fish that suit your water, not try to do it the other way around.

That said, being as it does not answer your question, the usual advice for ph UP is to add crushed coral. Why it has to be crushed is not completely clear to me; I would think a nice lump of plain (dead) coral would have nearly as much surface area intact as it would all smashed up. But that's the way it's phrased. You can put it in a bag in your filter if you have room; in a bag in the water, with something placed or planted in front of it if you find it unattractive; or buried under a layer of substrate, not too deep. Or just mixed in with the substrate, whatever. It just needs to be exposed to as much water as possible.

This is not the most authoritative site imaginable but the information jibes with what is found elsewhere. Best of luck with your project.

 

[ublasfu]

I need my ph at 7.5-8 to keep my Tylomelania sp. Happy

 

[thorpbrian]

Your sulawesi snail will be fine at your current Ph. Messing with the Ph usually just inevitably ends with major problems. Your snail will be fine in a Ph of 7. Just be sure to keep the calcium levels up for the health of the snails' shell's.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

That said, being as it does not answer your question, the usual advice for ph UP is to add crushed coral. Why it has to be crushed is not completely clear to me; I would think a nice lump of plain (dead) coral would have nearly as much surface area intact as it would all smashed up. But that's the way it's phrased. You can put it in a bag in your filter if you have room; in a bag in the water, with something placed or planted in front of it if you find it unattractive; or buried under a layer of substrate, not too deep. Or just mixed in with the substrate, whatever. It just needs to be exposed to as much water as possible.

When people refer to crushed coral they are talking about this: http://www.bigalsonline.com/edealin...medium=Comparison+Shopping&CAWELAID=388698888
It is an aquarium substrate designed for marine aquariums (albeit an old school choice) Most people use aragonite sand nowadays.
This crushed coral does indeed have a much higher surface area than just a solid piece of 'uncrushed' coral. I agree that it is best used in a high flow area such as the filter. It also serves as a biomedia at the same time.

Personally, I agree with most people here in that you don't really need to worry so much about trying to alter your pH and doing so can do more harm than good. If you must, then crushed coral or something similar such as dolomite can be used in your filter to slowly increase the pH.

 

[timwag2001]

are you using pressurized co2 with a ph controller?

 

[ublasfu]

NO CO2 .. 45 GALLON TANK WITH ECO COMPLETE PLANTED SUBSTRATE EHEIM 2213 FILTER STANDARD FLOURCENT TUBE LIGHT.. I ADDED SOME ARAGONITE TO THE FILTER TO SEE IF IT BRINGS IT UP WHEN I LAST CHECKED THE PH WAS AT 6.5 WHICH IS TOO LOW.

 

[fabsroman]

Baking soda works to raise the PH. I use it in all my tanks, but never used to use it in fish only tanks. I just don't have any fish only tanks.

A 6.5 ph is definitely too low to keep snails. The only tank I have been using baking soda in without having pressurized CO2 on it is a 10 gallon with MTS and blue pearl shrimp. It has vals in it and the vals can scavenge from the baking soda when CO2 is too low. Pressurized CO2 is coming to that tank as soon as I have a free weekend.