SO this is what I am wondering. Anyone know of anything I can use to lower and raise my ph that is safe for fish. Oh and I'm not talking about like ph products for fish. I am talking about like other chemicals. I guess I am basically asking if anyone knows the chemicals that ph buffers contain. I would like to mix my own. I think it would be cheaper.
Ph?
- Thread starter born2lovefish
- Start date
My brother works in a research lab and he told me if I tell him what I want we can probably make it there. He works mostly with cells so messing with ph is not his field, but he has 9 years of college under his belt so yes he knows what he is doing. The
My brother works in a research lab and he told me if I tell him what I want we can probably make it there. He works mostly with cells so messing with ph is not his field, but he has 9 years of college under his belt so yes he knows what he is doing. The main reason I want to lower it is because my ph comes out of the tap at a ph of 8. That is way too high for my tanks.
You could try visiting the websites of the companies that make aquarium buffers to see if they specify the ingredients and concentrations.
But please don't assume that just because someone has been to college that they know what is safe for fish.
But please don't assume that just because someone has been to college that they know what is safe for fish.
Oh I understand that completely. My brother has kept fish way longer than I have and I have been keeping them for years. Before I added anything homemade chemical to a tank I would test it on feeder fish and then other freshwater fish first. I am not that dumb....
Most pH lowering chemicals use phospate buffers. Pretty much produces H3PO4 (phosphoric acid) when added to the water. This would effectively lower the pH. The problem with this is that bacteria and algae consume phosphates to make ATP and the pH will become highly unstable as the phosphates get used up.
Thanks for the explaination. It was very helpful. I appreciate hearing the science behind something, instead of it will not work. Thanks again.
I do not want to add any form of PH4 to my tank. I have had problems with aglae in the past and that would allow it to thrive.