PH Level Question

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A

agirard2003

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2010
72
2
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Belle River, Ontario, Canada
I have a question regarding PH levels in a tank...
I'm getting into Cichlids after some time with tropical community fish.
I'm reading and finding that many of the cichlids require a ph level higher than what my tap water is.

Should i be tinkering with the PH levels? should i just leave it as is?

My Levels, from API liquid test kit - PH = 7.6 , HIGH PH = 7.4

Thanks
 
What lake are you planning on, and will you be keeping wild caught fish?

In general, if your pH out of the tap is at or above 7.4 then you will be fine. Better to just keep it at 7.4 then mess with chemicals and set yourself up for the possibility of a pH crash. The only time it might be necessary to keep the pH closer to the actual lake levels is if you decide to keep wild caught fish.

If you want, you could get some texas holey rock or coral substrate (or just add some coral to your filter or something). This will naturally raise the pH. I have texas holey rock (got a great deal on craigslist) and it raised my pH from 7.6 out of the tap to 8.0-8.2. Didn't have to add the THR, but like the look and gave added benefit.
 
^This, either leave it alone or use a natural stone buffer for your decor. Trying to use chemicals to raise it would be much more traumatic on the stock by subjecting them to swings every time you do a water change.
 
Plz also keep in mind if you raise your ph with either holly rock or crushed coral to 8-8.2 your water changes will have a lower ph in the new water and may possibly stress your fish.
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I would keep it were your ph is at right out of your tap water cause just like what everyone is telling you that if your trying to balance it with what ever you put in there, when you do a water change your going to get a ph swing and will stress out your fish, so IMO just keep it as is so that your ph is 7.?....
 
Thanks everyone... I don't have any plans on keeping any wild caught fish..
My understanding was with so many fish bred and raised in captivity that they've become more tolerant to lower levels than their actual natural levels...

Now onto figuring out what to stock with next
 
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