how to lower ph?

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wckdkl0wn

Feeder Fish
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May 16, 2008
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All cats love fish but fear to wet their paws
What would be the easiest way to lower the ph level for my tanks. My tap ph is 8.5-9.0 . Its perfect for cichlids but I have a few tanks and I want to do one with tropical community fish. How can I drop it to 7.0 range. Also what about during water changes?

Right now I have a 30 gal tank with cichlids in it and thinking about moving them to the 130 gallon tank. that would free up the 30 for tropicals. And I have another 30 gallon tank and a 10.

Advice?
 
what types of tropical community.. That pH is deadly to allot of cichlids... Africans and Central americans only account for some of the cichlid population and species ;)

Also if you are getting your Tropical community fish from a a chain chances are they really do not care about the water as the water they were in is likely the same as yours...

I would ask the LFS what there pH is in their tanks before manipulating yoru tank into a death trap for your new fish .

You could add some drift would and even run peat in your filter.. Buffering capacity could cause you issues still with such a High pH.
 
A few rosy barbs, red tail shark, red crystal shrimp, guppies, neons, etc. List is still in the works really. The ones for sure will be rosy barbs. Although no one local has any females.


What if I was to setup the one 30 gallon for tropicals with peat in the filter and also setup the second 30 gallon the same way. The second tank would remain empty and have the filter running 24/7 and when it came time for water changes just take from the one tank and put into the main tank. then refill the second tank with tap and let the ph level back out again? would that work?
 
Personally... That seems a littel exterem :D But hey I'm a monsterfishkeeper so everything I do aquaria is extreme too :D

I'm sure that would be fine.. i would check both the pH's when or before you do the water changes though... I really am not the most experienced hobbiest in this area... So i would also wait til more answers come :)

I really don;t think with that list unless they are Wild caught that you need to worry much...

Still I would ask your LFS what there parameters are and go from there.
 
Your fish are going to appreciate stability more than a specific pH. As long as you acclimate your fish properly when you get them, a higher pH is not going to bother them too much. If you really must lower your pH, there are lots of options available to you.
Like tongue said before, you can run use peat. This is the most natural way.
You can use buffers which can be purchased at any LFS.
You can also limit the aeration of your tank because carbon dioxide in your water helps keep your pH lower.
 
I tried using seachem liquid neutral regularor for adjusting the ph but it didn't bring the ph down like it said it would. it was suppose to bring it down to 7.0 but it only brought it down to 8. so I have given up on chemicals for adjusting it.

how would i acclimate them for the higher ph?
 
I just tested my cichlid tank and it is at roughly 8.0. My buddies tank that he has a few feeders, rainbow shark, red tail shark, and an algea eater in and his ph is higher then mine. his is at 9.0. but his fish seem to love it. He also doesnt treat his water for ph issues either.

Also the test kit I have is for ponds. wide range ph test. will this make a difference?
 
well, i use drift wood to lower my tanks ph.
 
Sarcastic response: Piss in the tank- there's all the uric acid you'll need.

Practical response: Peat moss is used to lower pH.
 
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