How to raise pH

TeaTime

TeaTime

AC Members
Jan 19, 2011
38
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central PA
Real Name
Tammy
I have an interesting dilemma with the pH in my two tanks. My 20-gal High is a low tech planted tank (mostly java ferns) with Eco-Complete as the substrate. Right now it has an AquaClear 30 power filter. It is home to two gouramis, five mystery snails and three cories. The pH in this tank is 6.0, all other parameters are within normal limits.

The 29-gal has plain old tan gravel, a few java ferns and an AquaClear 50 power filter. The livestock consists of one Krib, 5 guppies, a BN plec and three harlequin rasporas. The pH in this tank is 7.4. Once a week, I do a 40% water change in both tanks using the same water source. Any idea why the pH is so different in these tanks?

The bigger question is what can I do to raise the pH in the 20-gal?
 
I had a similiar problem with some of my tanks, couldn't find out why they were so different either.

My source water has nearly no hardness or alkilinity (gH and kH) so I have come to use a combonation of seachems reef calcuim (the calcuim and othr ingredients up the hardness) and baking soda, which I recently learned is needed for the filter bacteria to do their thing, and raises the alkilinity.

Upping both the gH and kH has brought my pH up from 6 to 7.
Just adding the calcium wasnt working on the ph much, but adding the baking soda did.

Just add the baking soda slowly so as not to make to big a difference at once, perhaps 1/8 or 1/4 of a tsp at a time (per day) till it's where you want it.
And don't forget to add a little more after water changes (as I once in a while do lol).

Other sources of calcium that have been recommended to me, calcium tablets - the oyster shell kind, crushed coral in the filter, cuttlebone.
Try cutting the calcium tablet in half if you go that way, I'm not sure how much that will raise the pH at once.
 
What decor differences are in the tanks? Wood like Mopani can lower the ph some, some types of rock can raise it.
 
TL1000RSquid said:
What decor differences are in the tanks? Wood like Mopani can lower the ph some, some types of rock can raise it.
Click to expand...

The 20-gallon does have a piece of driftwood in it but it's not Mopani - its a piece that I found by a river near my house. The 29-gal has a piece of fake driftwood...it looks kind of cheesy but the fish don't mind.

I should say that the 20-gallon tank has been up and running for a year.
 
TeaTime said:
The 20-gallon does have a piece of driftwood in it but it's not Mopani - its a piece that I found by a river near my house. The 29-gal has a piece of fake driftwood...it looks kind of cheesy but the fish don't mind.

I should say that the 20-gallon tank has been up and running for a year.
Click to expand...

Not sure how domestic woods affect the ph, my tap is mid 7's, most of my tanks are lower mid 7's, except 1 that has mopani its 6.5ish otherwise its identical to other tanks same substrate, plants etc, one of the 7's has malaysian driftwood which seemed to have no ph impact.
 
I would think that anything releasing tannins would lower pH, although different types of wood could vary to some extent.

Knowing KH is always good before messing with pH. Are the snails showing any sign of shell corrosion?
 
you could add crushed coral for substrate. It should buffer you up to a little over 8 but if that is too high for you then just use about 1/3 to 1/4 of the bag. most bags are rated for 20 gallon tanks so one should be enough.
 
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