how do i higher my ph

[dolly_daydream]

hi
just wondering how do i higher my ph without adding chemicals,my tap water is around 7.0,but it always goes lower than it should be (which is 7.0)as i have a community tank i do a weekly water change and test my ph just before and after my water change and near the end o the week its been in the lower 6 range,once even 5.0 ,how can i keep the ph at a steady 7.0 to 7.5 without adding stuff like "proper ph 7.0 " as i used it once and it only corrected the ph for about 3 days and it returned low again,plus i dont like adding unnessessary chemicals to my tank
thanks in advance for you,re replys
claire

 

[SPLiSH]

Have you got anything in the tank that could be leeching chemicals in? If you had untreated wood or rock in there it might affect the pH.

 

[Crookster]

Try putting some crushed oyster shells in the tank (your lfs should sell it), they should raise and maintain the ph. You could also try adding a paice of tufa rock, but this could leave your ph too high.

 

[Ben]

sandstone will work alot

DD

 

[sylvia]

I'd say not to do anything until you know what's causing the drop in the first place.

I'm hoping the tank is cycled as ammonia/nitrIte can lower pH. Do you do weekly partial water changes to get your nitrAte reading below 40 and keep it there?

Do you over-feed, do you have enough filtration and do you have an over-stocked tank? Note that well-aerated, oxygenated water tends to have a higher pH.

Do you have plants or any wood in your tank? If you do, I suggest you take out any wood and soak it for a while (until it stops leeching tannins). If you have CO2 for any plants, that lowers pH.

If you try to buffer your pH with crushed coral or the like it could still cause fluctuations and pH fluctuations are worse than a steady low pH. I suggest you identify the cause and work from there. Then, if necessary, consider crushed coral, sandstone/limestone or shells though you probably won't be needing them if you first elliminate the cause.

 

[CFC]

If your tanks pH is continually dropping then it is very likely your water has a low KH (carbonate hardness) which means that your waters acid buffering capacity is low. Through the normal action of the nitrogen cycle acids are released from decomposing organic compounds which then attach themselves to the calcium buffers in the water, once these buffers are used up the acids are free in the water and the pH will begin to drop.

To stabilise your pH there is 3 things you should do;

1) Change small ammounts of water every day to replace used buffering ions.

2) Vacume the substrate and clean mechanical filter media at least once a week to remove organic soilds before they join the nitrogen cycle, a seperate purely mechanical filter such a powerhead with a floss cartridge can be used here and the media washed in tapwater weekly to prevent it turning biological.

3) Add substrate or decor that will add calcium buffers to the water, crushed coral, coral sand and tuffa rock will all help, BUT be carefull not to add too much or your pH and KH may go higher than you wish. Add very small ammounts of whichever one you choose to use and moniter the pH and KH daily, once the KH has reached between 7 and 10 your pH should be stabilised.

 

[dolly_daydream]

hi
thanks for your replys ,i have 4 tanks and its the same with all of them there all fully cycled,been up and running for ages,all the plants are fake and no wood and i always overfilter and understock my tanks,for instance my 3ft tank in the bedroom as a under fravel filter,a fluval 4+ and plenty of surface movement,my 4ft in the living room as a fluval 4+ a undergravel and a external fluval and plenty of surface movement also all my readings are great, i do a 25% water change weekly alway use declorinater,never over feed,my ph just seems to drop over the space of a week should i use products like proper ph or something my fish dont seem affected by it but it cant be good for them can it ,what should i do

 

[nitro]

what should i do

Didnt CFC just explain what to do? ^^^^