NDelano

Hello everyone! I'm new .
I have low pH level in my tank. Probably around 6.0-6.2 So I was wondering if there is anything I can do about that. I read a little about putting things like dead corals, shells or soda in aquarium? And are they safe to use with all kinds of fish or just some?
I tried some ph buffers from pet store but it doesn't last long and make things more complicated.
I read that most fish will be fine with low PH levs, but I don't think my mollys like it.

agabr123

hi and welcome to fishlore

the easiest (and safest) way to increase your pH is to used crushed coral or limestone substrate. if you have any driftwood in your tank that will keep your pH LOW so you don't want to use that.

pinkfloydpuffer

Have you checked the ph of your tapwater? You want to be sure that the cause of low ph is your tapwater and not something else. Using something calcium-based, like a limestone rock, a bagful of aragonite in the filter, or crushed coral can help buffer the ph to higher levels.

NDelano

Thank you everyone for your advice!
I did the test today again and it's actualy over 7 now, that is after removing most of the driftwood and 25%-30% water change. Unfortunately a few fish look in shock or something, I'm very upset about that and really hope they make it.
My new cory fish was not moving much( they were all like that in the store so at first I thought it was the type of fish), now I see one of it's eye is cloudy, so I put him in a small tank and put maracyn 2 in it, hope it's the right thing to do and I hope other fish didn't get what ever he has.

NDelano

And update on cory cats, they look better now!

agabr123

i'm glad they're looking better

aquarist48

Remember your pH is going to fluctuate from time to time. Chemicals to adjust pH is just a waste of time and money and could possibly cause your pH to eventually crash. They are too unreliable and unstable.

NDelano

Now my ph is 7.8 for some reason and angel fish died. I don't understand what's wrong and don't know what to do. Very upset!

pinkfloydpuffer

Oh no! I'm sorry
What changes did you make to the tank? Just removed the driftwood and a 30% water change?

grump

Hi sorry too hear about your angel fish... It sounds like it may have been over stressed due to the PH going up too fast angels are a sensitive fish to changes... It is not that it was 7.8 because I have a angel and my PH is 7.6 and allways has been and my angel (Fred) is allmost a year old...

Here is a pic of Fred


STA60072.JPG

Hope you like Rob

agabr123

i'm so sorry you lost your angel

NDelano

yes only 30% water change and removed driftwood but PH lev really jumped after that. I donno if I'm ready to advence to angel fish keeping, but I really like them. I just don't understand what's wrong. I think I'm going to wait and see what happends with PH, nothing else is wrong really. It's a new tank, Nitrates are around 10-20, trying to get rid of them slowly.

AlyeskaGirl

Oh, I am sorry you lost your Angelfish.

Cordi

Sorry to hear about your Angel, it looked great.

just wondering why you would want a higher PH if you're not keeping cichlids.

a lower PH tends to mean softer water, in turn means brighter colors from your fish and better growth from plants.

if you used RO water then that would be the reason for your PH to be so low to begin with, unless you have very soft tap water. as for the bog wood, your tank would have to be full of it to make that much of a difference.

if you did want to raise your ph to a normal level then all you need is a good air pump and stone.

i personaly would love to live in a soft water area, since my water is hard and at 7.5ph

NDelano

There is already as much air and other stuff this tank can handle, hehe. I'll not do anything to my PH lev for now, will see what happends.

CHoffman

I don't think air can change the PH..might be wrong though..Sorry you lost your Angel..I would just what you said, wait a bit. Hopefully it will level out soon.