Ph levles

[LTurner97]

My current ph level is 7.4 for my tank , is this high ? I read in the api testing book it should be 7 , what can I do to reduce it without using any ph down chemicals ? Thank you

 

[MattW]

I wouldn't consider 7.4 too high. Also depends on the fish inside the tank. What are the levels they would have in nature? If you want to lower without chemicals. Botanicals are a good way to reduce Ph.

 

[gwand]

What fish are in the tank? What is your GH? GH is more important than pH in most cases.

 

[Colin_T]

The GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness) of your water supply can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website (Water Analysis Report) or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

A pH of 7.4 is fine for most fish as long as they aren't wild caught or African Rift Lake cichlids from Lake Tanganyika.

 

[Essjay]

There is no "supposed to be" level for pH, it will be what it will be. Trying to change pH is not a good idea as pH, GH and KH are in a relationship. For example, if KH is high, adding chemicals will change pH initially then it will bounce back to what it was. Yoyoing pH is bad for fish.

GH, or hardness, is more important to fish than pH, and it is always a good idea to keep fish which need the same GH as your tap water. You should be able to find your hardness on your water company's website. You need a number and the unit of measurement rather than vague words - the unit is important as there several they might use.

 

[GaryE]

pH 7.4 is good for most bread and butter, common fish in the hobby. As has been noted above, pH isn't very important, and GH is what matters. But generally, a pH of 7.4 goes with a nice, up the middle hardness level.

My advice is to live with the pH you read. It rarely can be reduced without technology. It is easy to raise for some fish that need it higher. But while the industry is happy to sell you pH reducers, I can't think of one that isn't either useless or harmful in a well maintained, buffered tank.