Lowering the pH

[Mr. Bill]

I have a 1 week old 40 gallon glass aquarium. My PH is 7.6 from the tap. All the books I have read are telling me that these fish (Arowana and Cichlids) prefer a pH of 7.0. It sounds like short of installing an RO system there is no good way to lower my PH. So my first question is can an Arowana and South American Cichlids stay healthy with a pH of 7.6 And if not just how can I go about lowering the pH? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance.

 

[tlindsey]

I have a 1 week old 40 gallon glass aquarium. My PH is 7.6 from the tap. All the books I have read are telling me that these fish (Arowana and Cichlids) prefer a pH of 7.0. It sounds like short of installing an RO system there is no good way to lower my PH. So my first question is can an Arowana and South American Cichlids stay healthy with a pH of 7.6 And if not just how can I go about lowering the pH? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance.

It may be difficult to breed certain SA cichlids with that PH but most will adapt .

 

[tlindsey]

The Aro will be fine also.

 

[bOOsteN aUdI]

Add drift or bog wood. That will soften your water and drop your ph.

 

[Mr. Bill]

The Aro will be fine also.

Thanks tlindsey

 

[Mr. Bill]

Add drift or bog wood. That will soften your water and drop your ph.

bOOsteN I have a piece of driftwood soaking now thanks

 

[thacarter546]

You can get 100% peat moss, make sure no fertilizers. Black gold is the one I used iirc. Put it in a media bag and in the filter. It will lower the ph. You have to experiment with amount. It will release tannins as well. Fluval and a couple others make peat granules for the same purpose although expensive they work. Peat needs to be replaced monthly like carbon.

Injecting co2 lowers ph but is extremely pricy and pointless for your purpose.

The fish most likely will adapt to 7.6 if you want clear water.

 

[DN328]

I cannot speak to breading, but I would use driftwood as part of your décor and just call it a day. When I was cycling, my PH fluctuated (which is bit different scenario), and I through in some crushed coral in a net bag to stabilize the PH. It still sitting in my sump tray. I figured it's not hurting anything so kept it in there.

 

[duanes]

I guess its my turn to be the bad guy again.
Most South American cichlids get too large for a 40 gal, except the dwarf type.
And a 40gallon is too small for 1 arowana.
So the pH doesn't really matter, if you put some normal size S American cichlids and an arowana in that size tank, my guess is most will be dead within 6 months.

 

[tlindsey]

I guess its my turn to be the bad guy again.
Most South American cichlids get too large for a 40 gal, except the dwarf type.
And a 40gallon is too small for 1 arowana.
So the pH doesn't really matter, if you put some normal size S American cichlids and an arowana in that size tank, my guess is most will be dead within 6 months.

Disappointed I overlooked that it was only a 40 gallon aquarium.