Raising PH HElP

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BichirAddict

BichirAddict

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 13, 2007
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Virginia
I need help on finding the best way to raise ph as my is at a reading of 6.0 but that is as low as the test goes could be lower need help on the safest way to increase it without shocking the fish. As this extrme low caused my new monster clown loach to die. I currently was told to use Kent R.O. Right after every water change and have done that and after week still have same reading.
 
I would add crushed coral, as a substrate or something. Make sure whatever you do you do it slowly, quick pH changes tend to be lethal.
 
how slow should it be added and how much could I use to get to a neutral level.
 
poly-nomial;4045716; said:
i would get a filter bag and toss some crushed coral in it. Don't even touch the chemicals, they can screw up your whole system. Only add about half a cup of CC every 24hours to allow steady change.

Dave
Click to expand...
i agree
 
R.O. water is deadly if not cut with normal water.

Agree with crushed coral, but who advised R.O. water for your low pH problem? Or was R.O. the solution to a different problem?

I only need about one cup of coral/shell gravel to keep my 125g at about 7.2 up from 6.4, but every city will be a different story so do add it slowly and watch for any trace of ammonia. As pH rises, ammonia becomes more toxic.
 
Who mentioned RO?

Crushed coral wont raise the pH. It is calcium carbonate. It will slowly dissolve carbonates (hardness) into the water and help to prevent the pH from falling. You can easily raise the pH by adding bicarb (Sodium bicarbonate) but go easy as it is extremely strong stuff. You'll only need a couple of teaspoons at the most, over a couple of days, to get it from 6 to 7, so add a little every few hours.

Once you have the pH where you want it, a crushed coral substrate will help to stop it falling, but if the load on the tank is too much for it you'll have to just add a little bicarb every couple of days.

Btw, a pH of 6 will not harm Clown Loach, unless it died from pH shock - i.e. you mixed it in too quickly. What pH was it in the bag?
 
blackghostuk;4045873; said:
Who mentioned RO?

Crushed coral wont raise the pH. It is calcium carbonate. It will slowly dissolve carbonates (hardness) into the water and help to prevent the pH from falling. You can easily raise the pH by adding bicarb (Sodium bicarbonate) but go easy as it is extremely strong stuff. You'll only need a couple of teaspoons at the most, over a couple of days, to get it from 6 to 7, so add a little every few hours.

Once you have the pH where you want it, a crushed coral substrate will help to stop it falling, but if the load on the tank is too much for it you'll have to just add a little bicarb every couple of days.

Btw, a pH of 6 will not harm Clown Loach, unless it died from pH shock - i.e. you mixed it in too quickly. What pH was it in the bag?
Click to expand...
The ph is at 7.2
probably more shock than low ph but, is as low as test goes could be lower. Thanks for all the help everyone. One question is when I get the ph around 7 were I want it will I need to add to it to keep it there or will it naturally balance around 7.
 
Kent R.O. Right increases TDS (kH, gH) while trying not to alter pH. It's mostly for reconstituting reverse osmosis water hence its namesake.

I've used Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda for years now to increase/maintain pH. I usually add a small amount at a time (1 g every 30 min for a 75 gal tank) or I put 6-8 grams in a jar of water and drip it into the tank slowly. I use electronic pH meters so I can watch closely.

If your loach died shortly after being introduced to the tank, it's most likely TDS shock from incorrect acclimation. A sudden change in TDS will injure a fish much more than a sudden change in pH and even more so than a change in temperature. But most people just float a fish in a bag in the tank and then release it which acclimates them to temperature only, the least important parameter.

A pH of 6 in and of itself won't harm a loach. Something else killed your loach.
 
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