Ph Down?

[fry_forever!]

Hey guys! To make a long story short, I'm getting a couple dwarf cichlids this weekend for my 17 gallon, but they need a low ph, I realize. But, my ph in my tank is at 7.5! I want to get it to at least 7.2! Should I buy one of those products that makes the ph go down?

I don't understand, though, because the ph of my tap water is 6.8! lol

Could some kind of water conditioner I'm using up my ph or something? I only use Aqua plus. Or could it be some rocks in my aquarium that up the ph? I know limestone makes it go up, and I do have some limestone in there, but I also have driftwood, so I thought it would neutralize it....?

Thanks in advance!

-f_f!

 

[meguro]

Your dwarf cichlids will most likely be fine with pH 7.5. Though if they're some of the more sensitive ones obviously they won't be, but neither would pH 7.2 work (unless they're kribensis?). Just make sure you acclimatise slowly over a long duration (30min at least).

I would advise you to remove the limestone if you're really concerned, as it has probably increased the hardness too. Ensure any changes you make are done gradually though because if there are fish in the tank, large swings in water parameters will shock them and could cause death.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Do not use products that change the pH!

The limestone is most likely the cause. Limestone will raise the pH way more than driftwood will. Driftwood will lower you pH maybe by like 0.1?

Remove the limestone and see where that takes you.

-FHM

 

[fry_forever!]

Thank you! No, I do not have any fish right now, so that's why I am making the changes before I get fish. lol

Why are ph down products so bad, though? Just wondering.

I'll take the limestone out, and put in a couple coconut homemade caves.

Thanks!

 

[Amberleaf]

Well, because they are chemicals, and actually often don't do much; that's why. DX

 

[fry_forever!]

Well, because they are chemicals, and actually often don't do much; that's why. DX

Haha! lol That's what I thought.

 

[ashemely]

If you know where you are going to get your fish from ask the seller what their water parameters are, if they are similar and the fish are doing well, especially if they have been bred in similar water conditions, then there shouldn't be a problem bringing them home. For example, my water sits at a ph of 8.0, but when I wanted some tetras and was reading up on them I thought I would never be able to get any as they like super soft water. But I talked to my local non-chain fish store and they said they source their tetras from a breeder in the local area so the tetras were bred in hard water, and I bought some and they're doing brilliantly.

Just a thought, before you go through all the hassle of changing your water parameters.

 

[fry_forever!]

If you know where you are going to get your fish from ask the seller what their water parameters are, if they are similar and the fish are doing well, especially if they have been bred in similar water conditions, then there shouldn't be a problem bringing them home. For example, my water sits at a ph of 8.0, but when I wanted some tetras and was reading up on them I thought I would never be able to get any as they like super soft water. But I talked to my local non-chain fish store and they said they source their tetras from a breeder in the local area so the tetras were bred in hard water, and I bought some and they're doing brilliantly.

Just a thought, before you go through all the hassle of changing your water parameters.

Wow, would of never thought of it that way! Thanks! I'll keep that in mind!

 

[meguro]

Well, because they are chemicals, and actually often don't do much; that's why. DX

Contrary to things like "Cycle" and other bacteria in a bottle products, pH down and pH up products generally work when used correctly. It is advised not to use them though as if you forget to add the chemicals after a water change it can create massive spikes in pH which the fish won't like. Also, many of the pH down and pH up products alter hardness alongside pH, so you essentially end up changing two water parameters instead of just one.

 

[drobbyb]

Contrary to things like "Cycle" and other bacteria in a bottle products, pH down and pH up products generally work when used correctly. It is advised not to use them though as if you forget to add the chemicals after a water change it can create massive spikes in pH which the fish won't like. Also, many of the pH down and pH up products alter hardness alongside pH, so you essentially end up changing two water parameters instead of just one.

They may work, but only temporarily. They do nothing to buffer the water or remove buffer from the water hence your pH will most likely return to the point before the product was used.

 

[fry_forever!]

Contrary to things like "Cycle" and other bacteria in a bottle products, pH down and pH up products generally work when used correctly. It is advised not to use them though as if you forget to add the chemicals after a water change it can create massive spikes in pH which the fish won't like. Also, many of the pH down and pH up products alter hardness alongside pH, so you essentially end up changing two water parameters instead of just one.

They may work, but only temporarily. They do nothing to buffer the water or remove buffer from the water hence your pH will most likely return to the point before the product was used.

Thanks, everyone. I took out the limestone rocks, now I have some DIY coconut caves in there. The ph has gone down a bit, it's now at 7.3. My goal is to get it to at least 7.2. I won't be getting the cichlids till Monday, probably, so that gives me some time yet.

Thanks again.

-f_f!

 

[Mikaila31]

Filter with some peat if you really want to nudge it down. I've kept GBR at similar PH without issues.

 

[fry_forever!]

Filter with some peat if you really want to nudge it down. I've kept GBR at similar PH without issues.

Sorry, what is GBR? I am not at all good w/ abbreviations. lol Did they breed in that ph? Because I heard that krib and dwarf cichlid eggs won't hatch in ph over 7.2....?

And where would I get peat?

Haha! Thanks! As you can tell, I'm not the brightest bulb on the planet.

 

[Mikaila31]

Filter with some peat if you really want to nudge it down. I've kept GBR at similar PH without issues.

Sorry, what is GBR? I am not at all good w/ abbreviations. lol Did they breed in that ph? Because I heard that krib and dwarf cichlid eggs won't hatch in ph over 7.2....?

And where would I get peat?

Haha! Thanks! As you can tell, I'm not the brightest bulb on the planet.

German Blue Rams. They did breed in that PH and in my medium-hard water. They were locally bred German Blue Rams though. I do have issues with eggs, the things rarely hatch for me. I'm not sure if its my PH, water hardness, or 30-40ppm of nitrates that my tanks average. I wasn't trying to breed the rams and didn't have time or room for the eggs. The parents guarded them for 3 days, before they or something else ate them.

You can get peat sold specifically for aquariums. Or you can look at the garden center for something non treated. I wouldn't bother unless you are really concerned about the PH. Peat will work, but it will turn the water brown and needs to be replaced regularly.

 

[OldMan47]

pH down products are simply acids. They will indeed lower your pH but will do so by reacting with the bases in the tank water. In your case, the higher pH is coming from limestone so the end result of adding a pH down product would be no lasting effect on the pH but the limestone would be dissolving into the water faster. Now take a look at fish with a reputation for liking low pH. What they almost all share is a love for water that is low in mineral content. By adding the acid you indeed lower the pH, at least temporarily, but you raise the mineral content directly followed by the limestone adding in even more minerals. That is not exactly good water for soft water low pH fish to live in. On the other hand, removing the limestone and adding nothing means the minerals in the water will basically be the minerals that it starts with from the tap, nothing added means lower mineral content by far.