Iron waffle

Recently, i've been reading a lot about pH and decided to test a few of my tanks, all pH levels have been stable. my smallest tank and my goldfish tank are at about 7.2, which is great. but the problem is my community tank is at about 8 (probably because of the coral gravel) .

The problem isn't so much the actual value or the fact that the fish and plants i would like probably would prefer a lower pH, but...

I have plenty of driftwood
I use CO2
and my tap water is at pH 6.5.

I fear that when buffers in my tank run out, the pH will drop quickly and harm the fish. is this going to be a problem?

10gallonmadness

Why don't you use a PH raising product as it drops? Like use a smaller dose then normal so the pH drops like .3 or whatever everyday until the pH is as low as it can get. Your fish will be fine. But be warned, this is just a theory so I could be wrong.

Tony G.

My pH is of 8.3. Its high, but stable. I have introduced TONS of DW with no success. Ken ( Aquarist48) suggested i used distiled water. ken, i hope you dont mind i used this.

Iron waffle

Do you mean use a pH product to raise it a bit? like if it drops .3, raise it .2? it sounds like good idea. I'm not worried that it will drop (i'd actually like it to drop), but am worried how fast it'll drop. Also the water here is very soft, i'm not entirely sure if that'll affect it though.

thanks for the idea

EDIT: Tony, i just read your post. I agree that stability is what's important. I have plenty of distilled/RO water (for drinking) but the water here hardly has any dissolved metals(calcium, Mg...) and is very soft. I'm worried that water changes are already shocking my fish(because of the big difference b/w tank water and tap water) and whether the pH will crash. but i may just have to use some distilled water to slowly lower the pH.

thanks

Tony G.

just remember to gradually mix it, not all at once.

Iron waffle

I will. I'd have to use it anyway, for my upcoming SW tank. I'll see if i can find some peat as well.

aquarist48

Good morning. Sorry to hear you're having pH issues. Personally I would avoid any type of chemical ph adjusters/controllers. They are too unreliable and could make your pH crash, resulting in fish loss. What you're doing with the crushed coral, driftwood and peat moss (make sure it's organic) is good.

I do use distilled water when I'm setting up a new tank and very rarely do I have to add it again. My pH from my tap (well water) is so high it's off the charts. Too, I've also used spring water on occasions. Check the pH levels first on the spring water.
My tanks normally stay around 8.0 when all is said and done. From then on I can just use my tap water and my tank pH never increases over 8.5. pH lowers naturally over time.

You could remove some of the coral gravel and see if that helps to lower your pH a bit. I know it isn't easy finding that "happy medium" when it comes to pH levels.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
Ken

10gallonmadness

I dunno I just threw it out there to help. I know there would probably be problems with my theory . I knew you wanted the pH to drop. I meant like add a really small dose as your water drops. Like add the raising product and just try to take things that raise the pH out of your tank, and when your buffers run out. Just like add a really small dose a pH raising chemicals and so when it drops it will only be in small increments.
It's amazing nature can do all this with-out any kind of chemicals what so ever. I wish I had that power. Ah... .