Lower Ph Without Chemicals?

Is there any way to lower your pH without using chemicals? My pH is WAY too high.

 

I don't think so

 

Nope. Craig is right. I read the instructions on my test strips (it helps you with readings), it says "to increase or decrease your pH, use pH increaser or decreaser." Hope this helps

 

Okay, I have another question. Is it possible to have soft water but a high pH? According to my test strips, I have a hardness of 0 but a pH of 8.4! I think the high pH was caused by salt and a lot of aeration, but I thought softness makes water have a much lower pH... Also my water is very alkaline, which also explains the pH, but I thought soft water was acidic... very confused...

Also, I want the water a bit harder and the pH around 7.0. If my test strips are giving me correct readings, how would I achieve this?

 

I've been told that if your Nitrate, Nitrite and ammonia levels are ok, that pH and Hardness levels aren't much to worry about. Also-they make some products that supposedly level your pH out to 7.0. I have extremely hard water & nothing can be done. The most to worry about is the chlorine and etc. On your test strip box (mine anyways) it gives tips on how to change things according to your readings. If yours doesn't, I can tell you what mine says. I help where I can...I try to shud'dup the rest of the time

 

yeah fishfan is right I don't worry about the hardness of my water either just the chlorine as long as u get it out

 

Unless you plan on eating your fish in the future you may aswell use chemicals to balance everything. it doesn't harm the fish . Infact it may even benefit them

 

Well, I use a lot of chemicals, wish I didn't have to

 

they'd be worse off without the chemicals because they are in an artificial atmosphere

 

Stable ph is much better for your fish than a high or low ph. Many fish unless they are wild caught are probably raised in a much higher ph than they would live in if they were in the wild. My ph is 7.6, but even discus would do well in my tank as long as the ph was stable. You are much better off to leave your ph the way it is instead of trying to adjust it all the time. You did not mention what type of fish you have in the tank. African cichlids love a higher ph. Also, the test strips are known to be unreliable and they are more expensive to use. You may want to consider getting an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master Test Kit or something similar. The AP kit is only about $15.00 online, and is highly recommended. Please post what is in the tank.

 

I'm going to have Bettas, Platies, and Cory Cats in my tank, who all like a pH somewhere around 7.0. My tap water is fine--about 7.2. But the water that's been in my tank while I'm cycling is way higher--I have 2 pH tests, and one says it's 7.6 and the other 8.4--which is the highest both of them go up to. I agree that it's not great to be using a bunch of chemicals, but I'm worried that the Cories won't appreciate it if my water really is 8.4. What I still don't understand is how such soft water could have such a high pH?!

 

My pH was pretty high when I first set up my tank. I asked at the pet store if there was any way to lower the pH without chemicals and they told me to buy Reverse Osmosis water and use that. When I first set up my tank I used all tap water. So, my next few water changes I used all RO water until my pH went down to an acceptable level and now I use 50% RO water and 50% tap water every time I do a water change. This has worked for me! If you can get some RO water, you may want to give it a try.

 

Does everyone think it would be better to just leave the pH alone and let my fish adjust to it or to try to change it with chemicals? (the RO water thing was a good idea, but I'm just not capable of handling that at the moment)

 

If your fish have been in your higher ph water already, I think they will be fine. If it's a problem, you would have seen it within hours of putting them in your tank. If your ph crashes because of chemicals added to your water, your fish could die even if the ph change is .03. My vote goes to leaving it the way it is. I would also highly recommend you getting a liquid master test kit like one. You have such a difference in readings with the strips that you have, you don't even know which one is correct. Most fish will do just fine with just about anyone's water no matter what the ph is, unless they are wild caught or you are interested in breeding them. If you want to try and adjust your water slightly and reduce the ph, try adding a piece of driftwood to the tank. The tannins in the wood have been know to lower ph in a tank.

 

Hmmm, maybe I'll try the driftwood. Where can I get it and is there anything I have to do to it before putting it in the tank?

 

Many of the sites that sell plants also sell driftwood. Your lfs should probably have some also. Aquabid also usually has some up for auction. A place that has pretty driftwood is Florida driftwood.

 

Unless you plan on eating your fish in the future you may aswell use chemicals to balance everything. it doesn't harm the fish . Infact it may even benefit them

that's sick! who would plan on eating their troppical fish

 

Ha. Well if I was really hungry. With all those colours it does make you wonder if just one of them may taste like bananas!

 

or those Bumble Bee Goby taste like honey?