Need to Raise my pH

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Razor7Music

Razor7Music

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2008
440
7
48
Irvine, CA
www.myspace.com
Hello--

My tank is finally very stable, which is good, but the pH is staying right at 6.8, which could be better. I have African cichlids, and I'd like to increase my pH and wondered what the recommended method is.

I've read a bit, and I understand crushed coral is an option, but I don't want to mess up the look of my gravel substrate--and I'm trying to keep my tank authentic (freshwater) looking.

I know supplements are an option too, but thought there might be a less maintenance way of doing it. Anything besides coral? Maybe something that exists in freshwater?:confused:

Thanks,
 
Crushed corals can be placed in your filter. Just stuff them in a nylon bag and then run them down on a filter. Your other alternatives are crushed oyster shells, plaster of Paris blocks, limestones, marble chips, seashells and aragonite substrate. You could dose calcium carbonate to increase pH and KH. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate that increases the KH to help stabilize the pH. There is also Kent's liquid calcium which is calcium chloride so this only increases the KH and won't make much difference in the pH.
 
Lupin;2740699;2740699 said:
Crushed corals can be placed in your filter. Just stuff them in a nylon bag and then run them down on a filter. Your other alternatives are crushed oyster shells, plaster of Paris blocks, limestones, marble chips, seashells and aragonite substrate. You could dose calcium carbonate to increase pH and KH. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate that increases the KH to help stabilize the pH. There is also Kent's liquid calcium which is calcium chloride so this only increases the KH and won't make much difference in the pH.
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Ah, Ok. I guess there is a little room ahead of the carbon filter media where I could put a little bag of coral, etc.

Thnx.
 
Razor7Music;2748397; said:
Hmm. I don't know. I've never tested it. The Quick Dip test strips are kind of expensive, so I only use them for the aquarium water--which is bottled spring water.
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If your using expensive bottled water and keeping cichlids. It might be worth it to test your tap water it will most likely have a higher PH . Just please don't change your PH all at once you will lose fish. And if your fish are fine then leave them I learned PH is nothing to be messed with if the fish are happy. :)
 
tcarswell;2748450;2748450 said:
If your using expensive bottled water and keeping cichlids. It might be worth it to test your tap water it will most likely have a higher PH . Just please don't change your PH all at once you will lose fish. And if your fish are fine then leave them I learned PH is nothing to be messed with if the fish are happy. :)
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It's the generic store bought 2.5 gallon containers of spring water. About .89c/gal.

The fish seem happy, but the tank is only about 2 months old, and that's the longest I've had the fish--most less than that. I just don't want any long term issues with the fish because they're all juvies and I want to keep them for many years.

I think I'll just stick a little coral in the filter. That shouldn't change things too much, too quickly.
 
You should be ok with the crushed coral then. Are you heating this water to match your tank temperature ? Just out of curiosity.
 
Razor7Music;2748394; said:
Ah, Ok. I guess there is a little room ahead of the carbon filter media where I could put a little bag of coral, etc.

Thnx.
Click to expand...

There really isnt any reason to use carbon in the filter, unless you are trying to remove medication from the water.

Test strips arent all that accurate, you should get a liquid test kit such as the API master freshwater test kit.
 
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