hello again. My 55g f/w tank has been cycled and contains around 12 small tetras, platys, and danios and they seem to be adjusted to the high ph (7.4). My tap water tested the same and I tried adding ph down over a week with no long term effect. I know using a mix of black gravel and crushed coral may be a cause, but it came from a cycled tank and I wanted it so I could cycle my new tank faster. My local store sold me a product called Instant Ocean Sea Buffer, but I am hesitating using it because it says that it "increases and maintains PH and alkalinity". Wouldn't this make my PH levels higher? It confuses me that the number is too high (7.4) but on the chart it shows the PH as too "basic". Am I trying to "raise" the number or the color on the chart, and is this the correct product? Thanks
newbie ph question
- Thread starter iamslotman
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From my understanding (as a newbie also) and someone else may correct me if I'm wrong here, chemicals to raise or lower the Ph are basically useless as your tanks Ph depends on the buffering capacity within the tank (substrate mainly) and this will always return the Ph to the same level after these chemicals have had their initial impact.
7.4 doesn't seem that high to me, I have a small tank with Endlers and RCS that has been reading 7.6-7.8 since it was setup, my community tank which has been setup longer has settled around 6.5, and a third tank that is currently at the brgining of the cycle is showing 7.2 - all these have the same water source (my tap where water comes out at 7.0) but different substrates, that would appear to confirm that buffering capacity is the important factor, so if you really need to adjust the Ph long term you have to change the buffering capacity by adding certain elements (I know crushed coral raises Ph but not sure what lowers it), using chemicals long term would mean constantly having to dose.
I think that the important thing is that the fish are healthy and able to live in a fairly wide range of Ph values, as long as there is no sudden change then that should remain so.
Hopefully someone with more experience will correct me if I'm wrong.
7.4 doesn't seem that high to me, I have a small tank with Endlers and RCS that has been reading 7.6-7.8 since it was setup, my community tank which has been setup longer has settled around 6.5, and a third tank that is currently at the brgining of the cycle is showing 7.2 - all these have the same water source (my tap where water comes out at 7.0) but different substrates, that would appear to confirm that buffering capacity is the important factor, so if you really need to adjust the Ph long term you have to change the buffering capacity by adding certain elements (I know crushed coral raises Ph but not sure what lowers it), using chemicals long term would mean constantly having to dose.
I think that the important thing is that the fish are healthy and able to live in a fairly wide range of Ph values, as long as there is no sudden change then that should remain so.
Hopefully someone with more experience will correct me if I'm wrong.
thanks for the help. I returned the buffer and I will just add fish slowly mixing waters in the bag so they get accustomed to the higher PH.
The thing actually preventing you from changing your waters ph is the kh of your water... This is a measure of alkalinity AKA the waters ability to neutralize acid. This is what we are talking about when we are talking about a "buffer."
7.4 is completely fine for the fish you are keeping. There are a few species that really need acidic ph (discus and SA cichlids, especially wild caught) or basic ph (African cichlids). Most species can adapt well within 6.0 to about 7.8.
7.4 is completely fine for the fish you are keeping. There are a few species that really need acidic ph (discus and SA cichlids, especially wild caught) or basic ph (African cichlids). Most species can adapt well within 6.0 to about 7.8.
iamslotman;4641123; said:
You can always drip acclimate too... Just tie a knot in the end of an airline house after you create a siphon from your tank water so it slowly drips your water into the LFS water.