Adjusting Ph Level For New Lake Malawi Mbuna Tank

[JMatthew]

So, I'm using Cihilid Lake Salt in order to to raise pH and all that. The water hardness is normally about 250 with our water at it has reached and held 425, however the pH has remained at 7.0 with the alkalinity around 50. How often should I be adding the CLS? I first introduced the amount indicated on the container. After nearly a week the hardness increased but I haven't seen anything from the other two ratings. I added the same quantity again and then two days later when doing a water change I added the appropriate amount according to how much water I add. About 18 hours later I am getting the EXACT same ratings.

 

[dthoffsett]

I've never used that particular product, however, from reading the maker's (Seachem) website the Cichlid Lake Salt is for adding trace elements not present in tap water. To raise your PH you'll need to use the buffer as well, or you could consider using aragonite sand as your substrate. Adding baking soda is another option, though like the cichlid lake salt you'll need to add it at every water change.

[URL="http/www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/CichlidLakeSalt.html"]http/www.seachem.com/Products/product_pa...idLakeSalt.html[/URL]

 

[Abyss]

Yep, I use Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt - IT IS NOT A PH RAISING PRODUCT.

 

[JMatthew]

Yep, I use Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt - IT IS NOT A PH RAISING PRODUCT.

Have you ever used their buffer? If so, these guys are already in the tank - I understand with the fish in I should be raising the pH slowly. For a 55 gallon about how much should I use and about how often in order to try and get the pH to were it needs to be?

 

[dthoffsett]

With fish in the tank you should be raising it slowly over the course of several weeks to a month. On the bottle there should be instructions for how much to add to raise your PH, I'd start out with maybe 25% of what they recommend and go from there.

 

[Abyss]

What's your PH out of the tap Dude?

If it is 7.5 or above, you'd be better using some type of buffering sand or rock.

If it isn't, by all means use the buffer. I just hate using chemical buffers as it is easy to get wrong and do more harm than good. Stability is more important than anything else.

 

[dthoffsett]

What's your PH out of the tap Dude?

If it is 7.5 or above, you'd be better using some type of buffering sand or rock.

If it isn't, by all means use the buffer. I just hate using chemical buffers as it is easy to get wrong and do more harm than good. Stability is more important than anything else.

Very good point, I just assumed that the tap PH was low too, but we all know what happens when we assume.