get yourself some PH buffer like 7.6 or 7.0 and you also need to get the lock for whatever PH you prefer. You want to add it slow, once you hit the PH you prefer, lock it in with the PH lock. I forget the brand name, but honestly you'll get better color with a higher PH. If their doing well I would leave it alone. My water went alittle acidic, so their color is alittle bland but, I plan on raising it slow after my next water change. The more acidic the less color your going to get and their eyes will cloud. I'm around 6.8 right now, I need to bump it up abit, I prefer 7.2 to 7.6 but i've gotten lazy lately.
PH lowering help
- Thread starter Wrestler 4 Life
- Start date
Tainted Glory;2579482; said:
correction, drift wood or bog wood is a natural water softener and will lower your ph as crushed coral is a natural buffer and will buff ph to 8 and higher
I'm in So.Cal and my PH is close to 8.0. My Pbass has no problem with my PH. Just be careful when you start fluctuating the PH because that could be very stressful for them. I think it's best to to get them accustomed to your water out the tap. Makes life a whole lot easier.
A lot depends on your water's buffering capacity. If it is well buffered a bale of peat, a bag of oak leaves and a huge piece of bog wood will do nothing to affect your pH.
Your best bet is to measure the water's alkalinity (buffering capacity) and then get back to us. We can then give you a better answer. In the mean time, as has already been mentioned, all you'll be doing is changing water chemistry with no clue as to what's really happening. This is a great way to kill fish...
Your best bet is to measure the water's alkalinity (buffering capacity) and then get back to us. We can then give you a better answer. In the mean time, as has already been mentioned, all you'll be doing is changing water chemistry with no clue as to what's really happening. This is a great way to kill fish...
Scatocephalus;2593353; said:
I agree. What exactly are you trying to achieve by lowering the PH?
R1_Ridah;2593368; said:
I thought it was bad for fish and their color if PH is not around 7 my fish are healthy and look pretty good but maybe not as colorful as some others....
NoobGuy;4312888; said:
My silver arowana is doing great in 7.8-8.0. I have never changed my ph, just keep it stable and for the most part you will be fine. Breeding some fish in the wrong ph is tough though.
No. A lot of captive bred fish and even a few wild caught ones are able to adapt properly without the need to adjust your pH. Considering several generations of the arowanas have been farm raised, pH variance is never an issue to them anymore. Besides, adjusting your pH unnecessarily will only do your fish more harm than help them.NoobGuy;4312888; said:
In some cases however such as keeping and breeding wild bettas and gouramis, then adjusting the pH is very much necessary in order to allow them to survive and even produce. They are just one of the most finicky when it comes to pH preferring very acidic conditions otherwise they seem to become listless and refuse to eat in hard alkaline conditions.
Scatocephalus;2593353; said:
test your tap water ,If your KH is high leave it alone, your PH will be more stable. Then using an acid buffer that lowers PH by lowering your KH is dangerous. Your setting yourself up for large PH swings.
When you start messing with your water chemistry you better have a nice sized storage tank to age and test your replacement water.
