Another PH Question???????

[motherof6]

I guess no matter how long I keep fish I will never understand PH.

I use the same water and plants in all of my tanks

I have 4 tanks. The 3 smaller ones all test the same PH level. The level I want.

My questions is why does my larger tank test so much lower? Is it the type or amount of fish?

I have tried the PH increaser slow, as advised, and test it twice a week. It never changes. It there a natural way to raise the PH slowly? I know some advise not to adjust at all but I would like to breed my Gouramis (have researched deeply) and need my PH at least 1.5 higher to do so.

Thanks for any input in advance!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Why would you want to change the ph? IMO a constant ph is more important than the actual value.

All my tanks have different levels, as long as it's 6.5-7.5 I would not worry and even then I don't think I would.

What is the ph if the water you are using to do water changes? Do you cange more in some tanks than in others? Do you have wood in your tanks? That can lower ph quite a lot.

 

[Bol]

Those are important questions.

Also, do you happen to know the KH of your water?

 

[motherof6]

I want to change raise the PH for my Gouramis to want to breed. I will move them to another tank for breeding but the Ph in there is 7.5. According to what I have been reading it is too hard on the fish to go more than a .5 a day adjustment.

Right now it is at 6 which is far too low. I cannot get it any higher.

I do not have wood in the tank at this time and if it makes it lower I will not add what I was planning on.(Thank you)

As for water changes I do them all at the same time and about the same percentage.

The PH from the water change (aged tap) tests at 7.0 -7.5.

I guess I am very ignorant...what is KH? I have not run across that before.

 

[Bol]

Kh stands for Carbonate Hardness (I believe it's a German translation), sometimes also called "total alkalinity", especially in multi-test strips.

It's the measure of the concentration of carbonate ions in your water, and is often referred to as a measure of "pH buffer". That is, a sufficient level of carbonates will help dampen pH fluctuations in your water.

Conversely, and the reason I mentioned it is, with very low KH levels, your pH can tend to be less stable, and the presence of acids (nitrates are nitric acid) will tend to drive your pH down.

 

[motherof6]

Thank you Bol for your quick response and clear explanation!

I have had this tank running stable for 3 years with no problems. It wasn't until last fall when I started getting interested in breeding Gouramis did I find my PH too low. I guess I will have to get a more extensive test kit and look further to see the stem of the problem.

 

[Bol]

Glad to help.

It wasn't until last fall when I started getting interested in breeding Gouramis did I find my PH too low.

Just wondering, by that do you mean "it wasn't until last fall that I started testing pH"? Or "it wasn't until last fall that I noticed the pH in that one tank dropping"?

Also, if you are going to invest in more test equipment (which is a good decision, in my opinion), I'd also recommend getting a nitrate test kit. In fact, most people will suggest you have a bundle that includes ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, and KH (and usually GH -- general hardness). For info, generally you can find a "Master Test Kit" that will include all but one of those. Which one is left out seems to depend on the manufacturer of the kit.

Oh, also, you will probably find that the markup on test kits at retail stores is HUGE (as in, 100% to 400%). If it's possible, and you're comfortable doing it, you can get tremendous savings by buying your test kits from an online shop.

 

[Auslander]

You can raise your PH by adding a chalky type rock to your tank. The sort of thing they sell as ornamental in the fish shop. It will slowly disolve in the water and raise your PH. Alternatively, to lower your PH, add peat to your filter.

 

[motherof6]

Bol - I noticed it after I started testing last fall. I had never been a "tester: before that. I had read that if all was well it really didn't matter. I am learning different. )

I will look into a test kit. Can you recommend any good on-line sites to purchase from?

Auslander - Thanks for the input! I just purchased some rocks yesterday and will see in time if it makes a difference. I will leave out the wood that I am soaking.

 

[Bol]

Two sites that I would check out are

http/www.drsfostersmith.com and http/www.bigalsonline.com .

I've only ordered from Drs. Foster and Smith once, and the order went fine.
Big Al's is a little slow on delivery (it usually takes them 2-4 days to ship my orders after online order placement), but they tend to have the lowest prices.

AP (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals), Red Sea, and Hagen are some brand names of test makers, by the way.

 

[motherof6]

Thank you very much!!!!