wow Checked my tanks PH
- Thread starter Burgess
- Start date
I don't like the use of buffers, they usually just make the pH go crazy stressing the fish. Besides when you do water changes the pH will just rise. Your fish would be better off at a stable pH then at the preferred pH.
Here's a better question....what kind of fish do you have? If it's syno cats like your profile, they love it.
Two very, very important points.
Two very, very important points.
Use driftwood, this lowers the pH. Crushed coral makes it higher, did you put any coral or shells in your tank?
I've got a black kulie loach thats lived in 8.0 ph for about 6yrs? now.. something like that I can't kill the lil' bugger.. I wouldn't try breeding them in those water perameters (if it was even possible 
) I am very very careful about acclimating new fish to my tanks as they come from 7.5 - levels from my LFS.. But I have yet to have a fish simple keel over on me for "no reason".. Unless you are keeping very sensitive wild caught fish.. or attempting breeding. health wise 7.6 is not overly high for most species of fish.
But small frequent water changes and heavily driftwood scaped tank would be a "natural" and relatively safe way to lower you PH to the 7.4 or lower range. depending on how much the driftwood leached, and how frequent the water changes and how large they are. infrequent large water changes in conjunction with driftwood could = similar PH bounces you'de see by useing PH balanceing chemicals. The downside to driftwood is the tannins leeched will discolor your water abit. and it can be rather pricey. The upsides is it is a very multifunctional peice of aquarium decor/PH lowering/natural grazeing site/ hidey spot.
Personally.. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the PH itself as long as it was stable. You can also go w/ an R/O system and mix the R/O water w/ tap to get a "perfect" ph if you want. R/O systems can be pricely and need regular maitence like a water softening system on a house is. otherwise ime all the chemicals are junk. beneficial to your fish can be relative.. a slightly higher but steady PH is more beneficial then one that constantly fluctuates.
) I am very very careful about acclimating new fish to my tanks as they come from 7.5 - levels from my LFS.. But I have yet to have a fish simple keel over on me for "no reason".. Unless you are keeping very sensitive wild caught fish.. or attempting breeding. health wise 7.6 is not overly high for most species of fish.But small frequent water changes and heavily driftwood scaped tank would be a "natural" and relatively safe way to lower you PH to the 7.4 or lower range. depending on how much the driftwood leached, and how frequent the water changes and how large they are. infrequent large water changes in conjunction with driftwood could = similar PH bounces you'de see by useing PH balanceing chemicals. The downside to driftwood is the tannins leeched will discolor your water abit. and it can be rather pricey. The upsides is it is a very multifunctional peice of aquarium decor/PH lowering/natural grazeing site/ hidey spot.
Personally.. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the PH itself as long as it was stable. You can also go w/ an R/O system and mix the R/O water w/ tap to get a "perfect" ph if you want. R/O systems can be pricely and need regular maitence like a water softening system on a house is. otherwise ime all the chemicals are junk. beneficial to your fish can be relative.. a slightly higher but steady PH is more beneficial then one that constantly fluctuates.
Unless you have wild-caught specimens, chasing a "target pH" is ludicrous. Most captive bred fish are raised in water conditions outside of what they are found in the wild. The only time I would try to alter the pH is if you know that it is required for breeding, and you want to breed them.
Changing the pH stresses a fishes osmoregulatory system, and should not be done unless required.
Changing the pH stresses a fishes osmoregulatory system, and should not be done unless required.