Raising pH/gH

[PumaWard]

While I was in Home Depot the other day looking for some sand for my new Tanganyika tank (haven't gotten it yet), I saw some crushed lime for sale. I was wondering if I could use this to raise my pH(around 7.7-7.8) and my gH (about 8 degrees.... dropped from 10 degrees when the snow started falling). I had originally planned on using crushed sea shells, but when I crush some up and then put them in a glass of water.... not much happened, pH went to 8 and gH didn't budge.

I think my kH being high is also factoring in to it, last I checked it was like 6 degrees (that was a while ago though). This would make it harder to change my water chemistry, right?

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Tiger15]

I tried those crushed lime from home center before and dumped them in my garden. The garden crushed lime is so impure that it would turn the water muddy, not to mention that the impurities may contain toxic metals. A cheap way to raise pH and hardness is to buy Plastic of Paris which is a 50/50 mixture of pure limestone (calcium/magnesium carbonate) and pure gypsum (magnesium/calsium sulphate). I have used it and it is safe. See link: http://www.koivet.com/html/articles/articles_details.php?article_id=76

 

[freshfishy]

Limestone rock is great for raising your PH, so you could just use them instead of your regular decorations/hidey holes, as is using dolomite, and some other "marine substrates" instead of gravel, or sometimes just in the filter or in a bag tucked away under a rock. I wouldn't use the lime....diiiiirrrty.

 

[PumaWard]

I found a site that explains how to raise pH and gH using baking soda, magnesium sulfate, and ocean salt... so I think I'm set.

 

[fishlips]

Limestone does work but it does contain other minerals etc. You could get yourself some crushed coral for substrate to help buffer your ph but takes time. The general rock work will also raise your gh depending on the type used.

To speed things up you can use baking soda to raise the ph and epsom salts to raise the gh. One of the two products raise the kh too but can't remember. Work up a formula to work for your given water parameters and its magic! Start slowly, I use 1/4 teaspoon epsom salts and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per 2.5 gallons of water to make up all water for my african tank.

Good luck. Edit]]]... O, What site was it? Cichlidforum.com

 

[PumaWard]

Yes, it was cichlid forum, but his recipe turned out to be way too strong... my pH only went to 8.2, but the gH skyrocketed to above 26 degrees (at the 26 drop or indicator solution I decided to stop and do a few water changes). However, I experimented today and found that 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teasoon epsoms salt for the bucket I used to do my water changes was a good ratio, (pH was 8, gH was 15 degrees), so that turned out good.

I couldn't find and ocean salt at the LFS, what is it for?

 

[ewok]

Originally posted by PumaWard
I couldn't find and ocean salt at the LFS, what is it for?

i think they mean something like "instant ocean" type salt. it's more than just salt, it contains other trace elements.

if you're looking for sand to raise ph, etc.... you want to look for the kind with aragonite (sp?) in it. or maybe crushed coral as a substrate. i added some shells to one of my tanks and never really noticed the difference, but i think using the coral as a substrate you might.

 

[fishlips]

Yes, the salts for trace elements but many people don't use it. The main thing is to be consistent with your water chemistry and you'll be fine. What are you using for sand? I'd be careful that the grain size is not too small or you'll have sand dust everywhere which spoils the look of the tank. I used southdown from HD and ended up tearing the tank down to redo the substrate. You could get two or three diff grain sizes to attain a more natural look. Good luck with your setup.

 

[PumaWard]

I am just using play sand from home depot, and I think my tank looks pretty good. I wanted to use the really white sand (silica maybe?), but I couldn't find any and I didn't have time to go to an auto-parts store for it.