Baking Soda To Change Ph?

[tim1]

Well, this morning I woke up to find my pH at 6.0, so I decided to add some Baking Soda to get my pH higher as I had to go to school and couldn't get anyone to change my water for me. I added about 1.5tbs(I have a 25gal aquarium). I put it into a paper towel and put it into my filter. Now I came home to find my pH at about 7.4!

Is this good? Could this ruin the system in the tank? If I change water, will I have to add some baking soda if my pH does not stabilize, or will finding some crushed coral be better? Because this is the only aquarium that this happens it. It finished the cycle a few days ago, and the only thing that could bring the pH down I think is either the bogwood or after-effects of the cycle. I'm not liking this...

 

[waterdrop]

Wow, that's a lot of baking soda to put in. I forget, aren't you still fishless cycling this particular tank? If so, it shouldn't matter fish-wise as you can do another giant water change before fish and nearly all the bicarb will be gone.

Let us know your fish/cycling state and we can maybe say more...

~~waterdrop~~

 

[tim1]

My cycle finished a few days ago, and I put in 2 fish, but I took them out. Even if I do a large water change, my pH goes down.

 

[waterdrop]

ok, sorry, I remember, and folks were advising to try and hold off making pH alterations...

If you are going to try raising.. My thinking is that crushed coral is much better to use once fish are in and you are on permanent maintenance. Baking soda to me seems only viable for fishless cycling, where its a good quick solution. For the permanent setup, coral is much better because all indications are that you can go quite long before you have to add more. I think we've mentioned before that putting a small partial handful in your filter (ideally in a way that doesn't mix with your other media) and then monitoring KH and pH is a good way to start.

Be aware that it may take as much as one or two weeks to get up to speed making the changes its going to make, so you have to be patient. But then after that you can decide whether you want to slowly increase the amount a little or decrease it. Unfortunately this is the sort of thing that will need regular monitoring for as long as you use it and a monitoring habit will have to be worked in with your water change regime.

I still think its weird you haven't been able to identify what is causing the pH drop in this tank.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[tim1]

Yea, I decided to raise my pH because it dropped to 6.0, and I was afraid it was going to drop even more and kill off my bacteria.

 

[waterdrop]

I've definately seen any number of threads where the experts recommend using crushed coral (its really just sea shells of all sorts I believe) rather than baking soda when planning to keep on doing it long-term. I don't think its too big a deal, I think a fair number of people do it when faced with water that is just too acid for what they need.

 

[monkey_biz]

hi
may i suggest the infamous waterdrop thread http/www.fishforums.net/content/Scientif...d-Raising-Them/

have fun and lay off the bicarb until you have tested your tap water

 

[tim1]

Thanks for the link to the thread. My tap water is about 7.6 pH.

 

[waterdrop]

hi
may i suggest the infamous waterdrop thread [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/Scientif...d-Raising-Them/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/Scientif...d-Raising-Them/[/URL]

have fun and lay off the bicarb until you have tested your tap water

o my gosh, its mr alkalinity himself! Watch out tim, this guy actually understands this stuff!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[tim1]

Haha, well, I might need his help. I took out the bogwood and I'm boiling it again to take out the rest of the tannins.

 

[waterdrop]

Are you still getting yellow water after you pour the boiling water over it in the bucket?

 

[tim1]

Its turns yellowish after 20mins of boiling. Is that ok, or should it not turn yellow at all?

I'm not pouring boiling water on it, I'm actually boiling the water while the wood is in a large pot.

 

[monkey_biz]

what is your tapwater ph after being stood for 24 hours or after dechlorination?

 

[waterdrop]

Its turns yellowish after 20mins of boiling. Is that ok, or should it not turn yellow at all?

I'm not pouring boiling water on it, I'm actually boiling the water while the wood is in a large pot.

Got me! I don't know the answer to that.

 

[tim1]

what is your tapwater ph after being stood for 24 hours or after dechlorination?

Straight out of the tap it is 7.6, after dechlorination it is 7.2-7.6