Bringing down the PH

Hello!!! I was wondering could anybody help me with this conundrum please? Is there any product out there that might bring down the PH? Thanks alot!
Felix

 

There are products out there to adjust the ph but we really don't recommend them. Most fish will adjust to most ph if acclimated slowly.
ph adjusters tend to make the ph fluctuate as it gets time for a water change thus causing the fish to be stressed. Stress affects the fishes immune system leaving them open for disease. A stable ph is much better for fish than a fluctuating one.
Carol

 

I heard BogWood helps steady the ph level how about that

 

I would give the same advice. Once I discovered how high my pH was(around 7.8-almost 8), I freaked and bought a generic pH decreaser and tried to lower it. I had outbreaks of disease constantly while trying to adjust it, but after I stopped have not had near as many problems and the fish seem to be doing fine, but it just means for me a long acclimation time for any new fish.

 

Bogwood or any other driftwood deemed safe for your tank would be a natural way to reduce your ph level. I'm with Butterfly. I would not buy any chemicals to lower your ph. The bogwood would be an acceptable way to do it.

 

I'm glad I read this...idk what it is..maybe its just my water but all of my tanks have high ph levels..but the fish do great after aclimated..

 

Well, you can test your tap water to see what its normal pH is. Most water suppliers also provide some kind of regular reports on their water quality and chemical stats (at least here in the US), and also put the info on their web pages.

 

are water is also ver soft and read that makes your ph higher

 

My LFS guy told me I could lower my PH with driftwood. Now thanks to this thread its been confirmed. Thanks! HOWEVER... Still another question.. hehe

Since aeration raises PH and natural acids in wood reduce it, would I have trouble with PH fluctuation?

 

Bogwood or any other driftwood deemed safe for your tank would be a natural way to reduce your ph level. I'm with Butterfly. I would not buy any chemicals to lower your ph. The bogwood would be an acceptable way to do it.

I'm in complete agreement. After recently learning that pH neutralizers contain phosphate buffers, I've decided to discontinue using my Seachem Neutral Regulator. My tap pH runs fairly high (7.8-8.0), so I keep driftwood in one tank to lower it.

 

What are some effective ways to bring down ph? My tank has only been cycled a month and I have not been paying attention to ph. I was surprised that it was around 8.0

Geez, now another thing to obsess about.......

What about some of the commercial products such as ph down? Tetra correct ph 7.0?
Anyone use those?

Thanks!

Junne

 

I would not use pH changing chemicals, because it is only too easy for the water to revert to what it usually is, meaning you get huge pH swings. Driftwood is a good idea, because it releases tannins into the water, which will reliably lower the pH. You can also add peat as a substrate, but I don't know much about this method.

If the tank is empty, that may be part of why the pH is so high. It gets lower when there's more carbon, and the fish produce carbon. Therefore, it seems like the pH could be lowered a little when you add fish.

 

Stay away from those products, silly! Every time you do a water change, you're introducing higher-pH water, so you'll have to dose every time. If you don't get it exactly right, then the pH shifts and your fishies will be sad. My pH was 8.2 for awhile and everyone was fine. You may just have to acclimate your new fish a little more slowly, if the pH at the store is different form yours; really it shouldn't be, if you get your water from the same source.

Driftwood doesn't really lower it that much. Well, it didn't for me, but I did boil the heck out of it, because I didn't really want my water stained brown.

 

Is there a particular reason you want to bring it down?

Most fish adapt to a wide range. The most important thing is consistency. I would not mess with it as it can do more harm then good with pH fluctuations that can stress your fish. Those pH up and down are only temporary as is.

 

I wouldn't really worry about changing your PH levels and like everyone says, stay away from chemicals/products that does lower. What is key is having a stable PH.

Your fish will adapt.

 

if your set on lowering ph , drift wood or try peat moss in the filter

 

Good morning,

Keep in mind it's more important to maintain a pH level than it is to pinpoint a certain level. Too, it will be much easier on you and your fish. The pH level can be maintained via frequent water changes as pH is going to naturally drop over time.

Agreed, using chemicals to alter your pH levels can be risky and possibly fatal to your fish. These chemicals are unstable and can lead to a pH crash resulting in fish loss.

I keep all of my tanks at 8.0. I have well water with pH so high it's off the charts. Prefiltering, heating and treating my water ahead of time, helps to keep my levels where they need to be.

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/prefiltering-water-for-water-changes.74204/

Ken

 

Thank you for the responses! I have been so focused this past month on keeping my tank cycled, doing pwc and otherwise general maintenance that when I decided to check the ph levels, was shocked that it was so high.

I was under the impression that certain fish and snails needed a certain level ph to sustain??? - I'm guessing since you all said they would "adapt" then the info I have is just a guideline because it seems difficult to maintain such parameters under normal circumstances.

So why do so many articles and such are bent on making sure ph is at a certain level? Is it just consistency that's more important?
I certainly don't want to jeopardize the health and well being of my fish.

I also do not have room for driftwood and don't like the idea of peat either.... Do you think moss balls and more plants would help, naturally?

Junne

 

I can honestly say PH down does not work. My water is relatively soft at about 4 degrees kh with a ph of 7.5. I dosed twice a day for 5 straight days and the ph did not drop at all. I also have a lot of drift wood and it does not seem to lower my ph either. I eventually gave up on trying to get it to the "ideal" ph and I have had no problems. All fish and plants seem happy.

 

snails do better in high ph of 7.5-8.5 acidic water can erode there shells

 

Inverts need the pH to be above 6.0, otherwise their shells start to deteriorate. However you definitely don't have to worry about that.

 

I believe using peat in your filter is the only real natural way to lower Ph.

Sent from my Android using Tapatalk 2

 

I think there is an emphasis on pH in articles because it's important to breeding certain species. I think for general health as long as you're between 6 and 8 you're okay. As others said, if you're really worried or if you get much above 8 you can use driftwood, peat, and plants to bring it down. Another thing I've seen is dead leaves, specifically oak--or if you want to get really fancy there are Indian almond leaves that some people use because it's supposedly also an anti-fungal. That will make your water a bit brown though.

 

Thank you for the responses! I have been so focused this past month on keeping my tank cycled, doing pwc and otherwise general maintenance that when I decided to check the ph levels, was shocked that it was so high.

I was under the impression that certain fish and snails needed a certain level ph to sustain??? - I'm guessing since you all said they would "adapt" then the info I have is just a guideline because it seems difficult to maintain such parameters under normal circumstances.

So why do so many articles and such are bent on making sure ph is at a certain level? Is it just consistency that's more important?
I certainly don't want to jeopardize the health and well being of my fish.

I also do not have room for driftwood and don't like the idea of peat either.... Do you think moss balls and more plants would help, naturally?

Junne

I've used peat moss before to lower ph in one of my tanks, I just shoved it in my hob.

When they refer about making sure that you are at certain ph level, it usually pertains to breeding certain fish.

 

okay... I'm not convinced about putting in peat moss in my hob ( sounds messy! ) just yet so I will just relax and keep doing my regular maintenance. Is there a number that would be "alarming" or harmful? Anything above 8.2?????
My fish ( and snails ) seem to be fine - I HAVE lost 2 snails within the last month but I believe its because the barbs are always picking at them. - no fish have been lost since I have been running my tank ( May 1st ) so that's good!

 

Good afternoon,

I have also used peat moss stuffed into a filter media bag and gathered Oak leaves from the yard and stuffed them into a media bag too. In the filter would be best but placing the media bags, hidden somewhere in the tank will work well.

Peat pellets are what I'm currently using:


Tannins will come out of the peat moss and peat pellets and your water will turn tea colored. Activated Carbon in the filter will help to some degree but it usually doesn't remove it all. Leaves, not so much tannins that I've noticed.

My idea of a safe pH range is 6.5 to 8.5.

As mentioned by others, snails should have a pH of 7.0 and higher to prevent shell erosion.

Ken

 

Thanks Ken

What about sea shells, do they have any effect on ph? lowering or raising? Calcium effect?

Junne

 

Hello,

Sea Shells will raise your pH.

Ken

 

okay then.... I might have figured out my problem with the high ph... I put in sea shells when I started my tank back in May...... Not many but maybe about 1/2 dozen small/medium sized one..... I guess I should take a few out and see what happens!

Junne

 

HI Junne,

Sounds like a good idea

Keep us posted.

Ken