How to Lower PH

[narayanang76]

Hi, I have a query reg how to lower PH, and I wanted to get some view/experience sharing from experts on this topic. City: Bangalore, India.

I have a 6 feet 510 Litre fresh water aquarium. Currently having a Malaysian Golden Xback Arowana of 9-10 Inches.

I test my water parameters using API test kit, and WC of 20% weekly.

My water parameters have been consistent:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - around 5 PPM

Only issue I have seen is High Range PH - 8 most of the time. PH also is consistent, but high for Arowana (ideally 6.5 to 7).

I would like to bring it to the range of 7, ideally.

I use tap water. From the tap it reads PH - 7 and Hardness 275 PPM. As soon as I fill the aquarium, PH raises to 8 and hardness around 700 PPM.

I have already tried (for more than a month):
Driftwood
Almond / Katappa Leaves
Peat Moss from Fluwal
Mixing with RO water cans (approx. 200 litre on few occassions)

No Luck and the PH remained at 8.

1-2 times I have also tried a large waterchange of 75%, but it didn't help at all. PH back to 8 and hardness back to 650PPM, immediately.

What else options for me?

I read on internet that mixing Sparkling/Soda water, Mixing CO2 to tank, Mixing Vinegar etc as other options. Anyone has first hand experience? I also want to ensure that my fish is safe and don't run into issues with it.

I don't have any decoration in the tank, and run on 2 Sun Sun Canister filters. With mechanical filtration and Bio filtration (Ceramic Rings and Bio Balls). Not having Active Carbon.

I have another 4 feet tank also, where the PH measures at 8.

My query is even after having source PH as 7 and hardness at 260 PPM, how can it raise to PH as 8 and hardness to 700 PPM? I have read about buffering but still trying out various options didn't help, hence posting here.

Looking for any sharing of experience and advice.

Cheers,
narayanang76

 

[altumz]

u can try ph down at ur local fish store if they sell it. its basically just acid that lowers ph.

 

[dan518]

I wouldn't try lowering your ph leave it as it is, most fish can adapt to a different ph as long as it's stable, changing your ph is easy keeping it stable is very hard

 

[jaws7777]

Agree with dan. I once tried to mess with the ph and did more harm than good.

 

[fishguy306]

It sounds to me like there is CO2 in your tap water, so as soon as it circulates a bit and gasses off the pH rises back up. The only safe way would be to get a RO unit and produce your own RO water and mix it with your tap water. It will be much more stable than your other options.

 

[catfishacr]

I wouldn't try messing with your PH. A stable PH is much better than a "perfect PH"
Chasing a PH will most likely just cause more problems.

 

[narayanang76]

Thanks for your suggestions and advice. Point taken. Even though my PH has been 8, I have seen it consistent so far, good that way.

I plan to do an experiment with my source tap water in a spare quarantine tank I am having. Without any fish in it. I can observe the changes of TDS and PH for source water in that tank, and also do an experiment with complete RO water in the quarantine tank.

This is mainly for my knowledge purpose. Somehow I am still unable to get why my PH is not getting reduced with most of the normal ways experienced by many.

I will not be touching my main tank and leave it where it is.

Cheers,
narayanang76

 

[catfishacr]

Somehow I am still unable to get why my PH is not getting reduced with most of the normal ways experienced by many.

As pointed out i wouldn't mess with your ph, but check and see what your KH is. If the KH is high it will be harder to change the ph. That might be why driftwood, etc. doesn't change it

 

[duanes]

When I have occasionally wanted to lower pH to induce spawning in certain species, I have collected rain water, and combined it with tap water. My tap was always around 7.8, and the rain where I lived around 6.8-7pH, and this addition would drop the tank pH slightly.
Because the barometric pressure would also drop during these rain events, I believe the drop would coincide with normal rain event condition for the fish in nature.
Air pollution was low where I lived, so not a concern. But if Bangalore has a problem, this may not be an option for you.
And I also agree with the others, trying to add acids in order to have consistent lower pH could be much more stressful for your fish and cause many more problems than using your tap.