Safely/naturally lowering PH

[DarkSoul]

About how much does peat moss lower the ph, how long does it last, and is it stable?

I would like to get my tank from 7.6 to neutral if thats possible. my tap water is 7.6 (maybe 7.4) so it isnt that far off.

I had a red sea test kit that must have been bad, because my KH test was always very faint, and never achieved the right colours, and I NEVER got an ammonia reading when doing an ammonia test..... even when 12 of my fish died from ammonia poisoning....

I emailed Red Sea about the KH test, and they said if I faxed them the reciepts they would replace my kit.... but I purchased the kit on ebay..... AND THEY STILL REPLACED IT.
the guy I bought it from also runs marinedepot.com , but it wasnt an ebay store or anything, just a plain listing..... AND THEY REPLACED IT.....

I consider that to be excellent customer service IMO.... I still have to wait for the new kit to get here though.

 

[Weezer]

so you'll want to add some carbon to the filter as well. Well, unless you like the Amazonian blackwater look in your tank. A lot of people do.

I use carbon 24/7, clear water, could you explain this part of your post....

 

[guppygal]

If your not adding anything to the water and you only have plain gravel and no rocks then your ph is what you API kit says. Do you have the high rang or low range API PH kit?
7.2-7.4 is fine and has nothing to do with your fish loss.

I actually do have a high range and low range test. The high range test came out to the lowest .. I think that was 7.4.

I just don't get why they consistently have been telling me my PH is high EVERY time they test my water (which has probably been 5-6 times over the last year.)

 

[Corax]

I use carbon 24/7, clear water, could you explain this part of your post....

Blackwater = water stained brownish-red by the tannins in decaying leaves, typical of the Amazon region. Discus, Apistos and various tetras call this soft, acidic water, home. Humans typically dislike it, and call it dirty.

 

[Weezer]

Blackwater = water stained brownish-red by the tannins in decaying leaves, typical of the Amazon region. Discus, Apistos and various tetras call this soft, acidic water, home. Humans typically dislike it, and call it dirty.

It sounded like people who use carbon will have black water, thanks just inquiring ......

 

[Corax]

Carbon won't usually do anythign to your tank, assuming you rinse it first. It can be quite dusty. A good dip in your change water and you're all set though.

 

[Weezer]

Thanks for clarifying your post .....

 

[Mabel]

Could you use Distilled water? Wouldn't that help to lower the PH?

 

[mee-mee]

You should do both pH range tests...the high and the low to get an estimate on where your pH is really at....and 8.5 from PetCo...they did something wrong or their testing agents are outdated...You shouldn't let them test your water again....:headshake2:

 

[FishyMatty]

I actually do have a high range and low range test. The high range test came out to the lowest .. I think that was 7.4.)

Did you try the low range kit? The high range kit will read lowest and it could be lower.
I have to recommend that you test the water a few more times maybe with new different kits and if you find that your tank is always 7.4 - 7.6 don't do anything. That is well within range for most fish. I know people who keep discus in 7.6PH thats a fish normally used to as low as 5.0PH.
Really I went for a long while trying to adjust my ph and kh then finally had some sense talked into me. Leave well enough alone. If you do find out your tap is 8.5 then report back and we'll work from there