Lowering PH??
- Thread starter threejjj
- Start date
The best advice I can give you in my limited knowledge of water chemistry is to read the following link; whether or not the measurements are accurate remains to be seen as I am trying to create a more acidic (pH) and softer (gH) environment for my tetras and rams.
I say this because all three elements (pH,gH,kH) are intertwined and of course the nitrogen cycle can play and intereting role in altering these values.
Sorry, no simple one quick pH downer solution....you could try Aquar.Pharma. product called "pH down"....although careful because it is phosphoric acid based (many phosphates = possible algae outbreak).
http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-chem.asp
cheers,
Marc
I say this because all three elements (pH,gH,kH) are intertwined and of course the nitrogen cycle can play and intereting role in altering these values.
Sorry, no simple one quick pH downer solution....you could try Aquar.Pharma. product called "pH down"....although careful because it is phosphoric acid based (many phosphates = possible algae outbreak).
http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-chem.asp
cheers,
Marc
Driftwood can help lower PH, the tannins it leaches does this, using blackwater is also used to lower PH, Reverse osmosis water, what i use is around 6 in PH aswell.
Dont use ph down. I think before you start trying to fiddle with the ph (remember fast adjustments of this are extremely stressful to fish) you should assess the buffering capacity of your water. Get the buffering right and the ph should follow.
RO water is good - but remember - you take everything out with RO water, including essential minerals.
A lot of ph stabilising products use phosphates which cause all sorts of other problems.
RO water is good - but remember - you take everything out with RO water, including essential minerals.
A lot of ph stabilising products use phosphates which cause all sorts of other problems.
It's amazing how complex (or simple) fishkeeping can be. I'm taking a keen interest in learning more about water chemistry these days and of course I'm not surprised that there isn't a quick solution to bring this value up, bring that one down etc.
I knew I shouldn't have sold my low maintenance lizard, in place of fishkeeping....kidding!
It seems apparent (and costly in the long run) that using commercially available ph and buffering products can be costly. RO water and RODI methods seem useful, albeit the loss of minerals etc, would dictate the necessity to add them back somehow.
I think I'd rather find the closest happy median for my rummy-nose tetras by using driftwood, peat and/or other natural means to create a close approximation to their aquatic environment and surrounding riparian habitat. And say whatever to fiddling with my tapwater pH of 7.3. It sure is a great learning experience and fun to boot!
I forgot to mention I picked up a first ever snail today (labelled 'mystery snail'). Perhaps it's an apple snail I don't know...but anyways, it is fantastic...it takes to algae like a dung beetle to s***t
Question: I'd like to know how to differentiate b/w a mystery snail and apple snail.
A text I read did not go into detailed descriptions of how to differentiate b/w an apple snail and mystery snail. It mentioned that the mystery snail has gills/lungs, thereby having the ability to breath (and lay eggs) out of water, whereas the apple snail has gills only. Anyway, any obvious visual clues?
Edit: how dense I am at this hour...I think I'll wait to see if this snail come out of the water....lol, sorry folks.
cheers,
Marc
I knew I shouldn't have sold my low maintenance lizard, in place of fishkeeping....kidding!
It seems apparent (and costly in the long run) that using commercially available ph and buffering products can be costly. RO water and RODI methods seem useful, albeit the loss of minerals etc, would dictate the necessity to add them back somehow.
I think I'd rather find the closest happy median for my rummy-nose tetras by using driftwood, peat and/or other natural means to create a close approximation to their aquatic environment and surrounding riparian habitat. And say whatever to fiddling with my tapwater pH of 7.3. It sure is a great learning experience and fun to boot!
I forgot to mention I picked up a first ever snail today (labelled 'mystery snail'). Perhaps it's an apple snail I don't know...but anyways, it is fantastic...it takes to algae like a dung beetle to s***t
Question: I'd like to know how to differentiate b/w a mystery snail and apple snail.
A text I read did not go into detailed descriptions of how to differentiate b/w an apple snail and mystery snail. It mentioned that the mystery snail has gills/lungs, thereby having the ability to breath (and lay eggs) out of water, whereas the apple snail has gills only. Anyway, any obvious visual clues?
Edit: how dense I am at this hour...I think I'll wait to see if this snail come out of the water....lol, sorry folks.
cheers,
Marc
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I used to joke around that it was a chemistry experiment every time I changed the water in the 2.5g tank I used to have for my betta (he got an upgrade!). But from what I've heard stable ph is much more important than a certain number and most community fish can tolerate a wide range. I would go with natural methods and check out your tap and see if you can't come up with a compromise! Good luck mr. wizard... 
Stable pH is favorable to the "ideal" pH if it will take chemicals and the like to reach the "ideal" pH in most cases. Are you trying to breed fish, or simply keep them? Also, threejjj, what fish are you keeping? Do you happen to know from where your fish came? Was it a fish farm or were they imported?