New Tank - Ph Whoas

[mrfishie51]

I have a new 55 gal tank.... Everytime I get the PH ~ 8.0 I add a little more buffer and poof... tank goes cloudy, ph drops to 7.2~7.4.. I noticed everytime a light film develops on tank walls. I end up having to clean the walls & waiting a few days to start adding more buffer.... Any ideas on how to get that PH up to 8.2~8.4 without having to pull my hair out. This is my 4th attempt to get that darn PH right. BTW AFter attempt #2... I emptied tank about 1/2 out and tried her again... I was unable to get 'er done.... Any advice?

 

[smithrc]

what are you currently using (product)?

 

[mrfishie51]

MARINE BUFFER BY SEACHEM
&
SALTWATER MASTER LIQUID TEST KIT BY AQUARIUM PHARM. INC.

 

[gadazobe]

Why do you want to get the ph up? Fish will adapt to any ph as long as it stays stable and doesn't keep changing.

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. Are there fish in the tank? The changes in pH will be very stressful to fish, so if there are fish in there be very careful about adjusting the pH. As mentioned above, most fish can adapt to a given pH, so it's more important to have a stable pH than what is recommended as the "correct" pH. If you are looking to raise the pH of the water, try adding some crushed corals or limestone rock. That will naturally and slowly raise the pH. Do you know what the KH is of your water? If you get a KH test kit and the reading comes out to a degree of hardness of 4 or higher, then your water is really going to work hard against changes in pH. Hope this helps.

 

[mrfishie51]

WELL,

MY WATER WAS EXTREMLY HARD UNTIL I BOUGHT A NEW WATERSOFTNER.. NOW ITS EXTREMLY SOFT... AS FAR AS FISH... NO FISH YET.... JUST TRYING TO GET THE TANK TO "IDEAL" PH LEVELS...

 

[tttnjfttt]

I noticed you are using a marine buffer. Is this for a marine tank or a tropical tank?

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

8.2-8.4 is the ideal pH for a saltwater tank. Tropical fish like it closer to 7.5.

 

[andywg]

If you are doing a tank that requires a higher pH (rift valley lake or SW come to mind) then a crushed coral substrate should help buffer the pH up.

 

[mrfishie51]

1) I HAVE CRUSHED CORAL SUBSTRATE
2) 8.2-8.4 is the ideal pH for a saltwater tank.Tropical fish like it closer to 7.5.-NOT IN ANY BOOKS I'VE READ
3) Is this for a marine tank or a tropical tank? - A MARINE TANK IS FOR TROPICAL FISH....

 

[tttnjfttt]

Fresh water tropical fish have a wide range of prefered pH, largely depending on the species. Fish like tetras like a lower pH wiht slightly acidic water, while at the other end African Cichlids like a higher pH, in the 8's. Marine (or salt water) fish prefer 8.2-8.4

With fresh water fish, pH really isn't very critical except for breeding. Marine fish are more sensitive and require a specific pH.

In general, fish are categorized by cold water, tropical (fresh water) or marine. What type of fish are you trying go set up for?

 

[Durbkat]

No a marine tank is not for tropical fish, a marine tank is for saltwater fish. A tropical tank is for tropical fish.

 

[smithrc]

No a marine tank is not for tropical fish, a marine tank is for saltwater fish. A tropical tank is for tropical fish.

actually tropical covers both... Tropical marine and tropical freshwater... tropical refers to the temp of the water - eg warm

 

[Durbkat]

Oh I thought marine was a saltwater tank.

 

[tttnjfttt]

thats the slang we tend to use, marine, tropical, and cold water seem to be the three main categories. but it is techically a marine tropical tank