Lowering pH - Strange Problem

R

rondrin

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Feb 18, 2003
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Hello all.

I've been data mining these forums for the past few days regarding water chemistry. I have a 30g tank that I'd like to keep amazon species in (cardinals tetras, german blue rams), but my tap pH is 7.8 and 90 mg/L kH after sitting out overnight. From my research, the amazon species prefer acidic pH.

I used the AP Tap Water filter to fill up my 30g, and tested the pH at 6.0. However, after a day it has creeped back up to 6.8 with a kH of 60 mg/L. On the second day, the pH is now 7.6 and kH is 70 mg/L I haven't stocked the tank yet, because I want to figure out how to maintain the pH at around 6 - 6.5.

Is there any way to keep the pH locked down in this range?

Additional info:
I have been running the heater and filter for the past 2 days (Eheim Ecco 2233)
The substrate is Carib Sea sand.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Ron
 
I think it's Davedka who says "Fish can't read PH" If I were you I wouldn't worry so much about what your ph is and would focus on a stable ph. The up and down in the ph could be far more harmful and stressful to the fish than a ph higher than what you think it should be.

As for the species you want to keep. My tanks run a steady 7.4 ph and I keep some cardinal and any other fish I want. They don't mind and are quite healthy. I think if you are planning on breeding would be the only time to really stress about it.

You ph will change over time as it ages. A good experiment is to get a bowl of your tap water and let it sit out...test it as it ages. 24 hours, 36 hours..etc. I will give you a good example of how your water changes.

I will let someone with more knowledge of water chemistry answer any other questions. :D That pretty much covers my very limited knowledge on the subject.
 
What is the full name of the Carib sea Sand? There are different varieties all with different ingredients.

Some have argonite or crushed coral which will make pH rise no matter what you do.

If the water out of your tap measures 6 pH, as mine does, then after sitting out a day and degassing it should only rise to 6.8 - 7.0. I'm betting your substrate is the culprit to the pH rise.
 
IceH2O said:
What is the full name of the Carib sea Sand? There are different varieties all with different ingredients.

Some have argonite or crushed coral which will make pH rise no matter what you do.

If the water out of your tap measures 6 pH, as mine does, then after sitting out a day and degassing it should only rise to 6.8 - 7.0. I'm betting your substrate is the culprit to the pH rise.
Click to expand...

Yup, if it is sand from the caribbean it will consist mostly of calcium carbonate and that will boost pH.
 
My tap water pH is 7.2 out of the tap. I only get 6.0 when I used the AP Tap Water Filter.

Yes, the sand is from Grand Bahama Island. I didn't think that it would have that drastic of an effect (from 6.0 to 7.6 is 160 times more basic!).

My straight tap water pH sitting out over night is a solid 7.8. Have people had much success keeping cardinals and rams at this pH?
 
As stated earlier fish can't read pH. They will acclimate and live perfect lives. The pH and Gh are really only important if you planned on breeding. Not to say it can't happen.

The only SAFE way to lower pH is to add driftwood and even that will only last a certain amount of time, unless you just want to trade out wood when you see the pH rising again. Or you could use RO water but by using the AP Tap Water Filter I figure its the same thing.

If you want to breed the fish then you'll need to change out the sand. If its one of the brands that have argonite or coral it'll keep raising the pH to near 8. Though it starts to slow down around 7.6 or so.

Don't use chems to control Ph as the up and down of pH will be more harmful than a high pH.
 
My tap water is 7 out ot the tap, and goes up to 7.8 and 8 in my tanks, even having different susbtrates.

The Ph is controlled by several factors: oxigen and CO2 levels, carbonate hardness, dissolved solids, and also will be affected by the addition of plants and fish.

Trying to modify water Ph is difficult and renders is unstable. Most fish will do fine in a range from 6.0 to 8.0, as long as it remains stable.
 
I echo what everyone else has said thus far. I have a tank with Amazon fish (neon tetras, rummy nose tetras, glo-lite tetras and silver dollars) that do quite well with my 7.4-7.6 pH. My water is rather soft at 5dGH, however, and *that* is what Amazon fish prefer more.

Roan
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice. I will try to start my tank up with those fish at the higher pH. I appreciate all of the advice.
 
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