ph level

[nick]

Hi

the ph level in my tank has been around 7, tested tonight and now showing 5.5.
recently bought white spot treatment. (3ft tank tropical, established three months, clown loaches, gourami's, mollies, catfish, coby's and plexus). please advise on how to increase ph level.


thanks

 

[Alien_spawn]

have you put in any new decorations into the tank that could have lowered the PH?

 

[cutechic]

Driftwood (and several other types of wood, eg bogwood, for that matter) will lower the pH. Mine dropped 1.0 ppm after I added driftwood, but slowly the pH raised by itself. I tried using all those pH stabilizers, buffers, etc. and trust me- they're more trouble than their worth! Try doing frequent water changes to raise the pH.

 

[reg2k2]

Might want to test water for hardness...esp. KH.
Shells and certain rocks can raise pH. Baking soda's another option, not sure on the dosage. I use crushed coral in the filter.