How To Increase My Ph,gh,kh.

HI I am currently planning a 20 gallon tank for neolamprologus multifasciatus and I noticed when testing my tap water that it is too soft and I need a higher PH,GH,KH and I need help figuring out how to raise them safely.

 

What does it test at? Unless you’re getting a wild caught fish or your PH is under 7, don’t worry about it.

 

My PH is at 6.7 to eightish and my GH is at 140 and my KH is round 170 I have some carbon that I could put in the filter to raise the KH ... I think that's how it works lol.

 

Nah, your hardness is perfectly fine. Throw some crushed coral in there to raise the PH. Honestly though, African Cichlids are some of the most hardy fish, and leaving it be will be just fine.

 

So the hardness is fine but I need to get some crushed coral and it will be fine?

 

A small stocking full of crushed coral, placed in my filter, raised my PH.

 

So the hardness is fine but I need to get some crushed coral and it will be fine?

Yep, your water is moderately hard, and I’m not sure why your PH is that low honestly lol. My tap comes out at 180 GH, 150 KH, and my PH is 8.2

 

A small stocking full of crushed coral, placed in my filter, raised my PH.

How much did you use? ...and how long does it last for?

 

Seachem alkaline buffer will increase KH and ph.
Seachem Equilibrium will increase GH.

 

Chemicals will allow you to raise KH/GH. But you will be measuring those chemicals forever.

The crushed coral I added to my filter was about the size of a golf ball.

But tests for KH/GH will tell you more, every tank is different.

I saw a noticeable difference in less than a week.

Since it was in my filter with water running over it constantly, it was pretty quick.

Loose coral spread on your substrate will work too but is harder to remove if you need to.

 

Seachem will increase and .
will increase .

A cheaper option is to use a combination of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and calcium sulfate (CaSO4) for GH, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, NaHCO3) for KH. Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO4.7H2O) can substitute for anhydrous magnesium sulfate.

If not concerned about elevated sodium with using baking soda (although this shouldn't occur with reasonable dosing), one can also use potassium carbonate (Ka2SO4).

Seachem's Alkaline Buffer is effectively a baking soda-based buffer with a few other carbonate salts (I think, more for the purpose of claiming "my product is better because it's different!"). Likewise, their Equilibrium GH booster is primarily MgSO4 and CaSO4 with a few other sulfate salts (K2SO4).

While some prefer calcium carbonate (CaCO3, e.g. crushed coral, oyster shells, cuttlebone) as a latent in-tank GH/KH supplement, it's not very soluble and often inconsistent if you're targeting a narrow GH/KH range. For e.g. a lot of shrimp aquarists mix their own GH supplements, with a Ca:Mg ratio generally between 3:1 to 4:1. Because MgSO4 and CaSO4 (as well as NaHCO3 and K2CO3) are highly soluble, the effect is quite immediate.