Proper PH 8.2

[1clicc]

Has anyone use Proper PH 8.2? because it say that it'll automatically adjust the ph to 8.2. I'm not really sure if this will really work. If it does, does it mess up the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate in the water? Hope to get some help. Thanks a lot.


Lee

 

[Cali]

I have no idea about 8.2, but I used 7.0 and it works fine, but (in may case) I had to put in quite a bit in order to reach that desired Ph level. Yes, it DOES buffer the Ph and keep it at that level, but it is my understanding that these Ph adjusting chemicals aren't really good for your fish...and your wallet.




I ended up adjusting my bettas to my own (very high) ph and they are A-OK!

 

[AttackKoala]

I would go ahead and use it, right after you do, test the water and see if anything has changed, wait a few days, testing the water each day, if what you see is aceptable, start using it. If not, find another product (or other fish )

 

[Mogo]

I am going to assume you are planning on keeping some kind of cichlid and this is why you want to raise the pH. I use baking soda to raise and buffer the water for my mbuna tank, works like a charm, and is CHEAPER than using pre fabbed chemicals, and IMO, safer and more natural. However, if you're new to fish keeping, I wouldn't suggest tampering with pH, and just choose fish that are suited to the pH of your tap water.

 

[1clicc]

Would Baking Soda Cloud up the water? Baking soda does contain chemical too right?

 

[Eelzor]

These chemicals that set the pH to your desired level - wouldn't it go back to whatever the tap water your putting in when you change the water?

 

[Cali]

These chemicals that set the pH to your desired level - wouldn't it go back to whatever the tap water your putting in when you change the water?

Yes, it does....that's why you have to add more chemicals to all new water you put in the tank.

 

[slagmi]

Proper Ph 8.2 does work and is safe for plants (no phosphates)

But so does baking soda

They don't really say but it's likely that Proper Ph 8.2 is mostly Sodium Bicarbonate anyways...

It certainly is sound advice to use as few and as little of any chemicals as possible
Most fish will have less trouble adapting to the water you have than dealing with changes

 

[Mogo]

No baking soda will not cloud the water. I treat the water and stir it really well in a bucket before I add it to the tank. If you plan to use baking soda, you need to make sure it is 100% pure BS, and doesn't have any anti-fouling agents in it.

 

[aschueler]

Baking soda -- sodium bicarbonate -->

Won't that add salinity to the water you don't want? Or is it in such a small amount it doesn't matter?

I can't see where the filter would be able to remove salts.

 

[guppymonkey]

Using chemicals to change the pH is almost always a waste of time. The chemicals change the pH but many times is only temporary, unless your water has a lot of alkalinity to buffer it. Also, as someone mentioned before, everytime water changes are done the pH drops back to what it is out of the tap. The chemicals that are used to change the pH add to the osmotic pressure that the fish are under. So, while you are trying to help the fish by making the pH go towards what they live in naturally you are really putting the fish under tremendous stress with all the chemicals that you are adding. And if you are keeping cichlids you are most likely doing a lot of water changes because of the large wastes that most cichlids produce, thats a lot of extra work and chemicals going into your tank.

 

[aschueler]

Maybe my next question belongs in the newbie area, but it follows this thread, so please be kind.

I currently have cichlids -- which works out well, as my tap water runs 7.8 or higher for pH, and my tank is about there now (last tested yesterday). However, if I want a different fish (for example, if the cichlids die), what would be the best way to adjust the pH if not a chemical manner? Are there biologic agents like plants or other organisms that are better at keeping a certain pH? I can certainly see where adding acids or bases to tank water will definitely add to the osmotic problems too.

What do you guys do?

 

[Mogo]

Baking soda not only raises the pH but also raises the KH. Regular water changes with water treated with BS will maintain the KH levels, before they begin to fall from natural processes. I don't see how simply adding 1/2 tsp of baking soda to a 2 gallon bucket of water can be considered a waste of time, afterall, I am spending the time adding dechlorinator anyways. (please note, that 1/2 tsp for 2 gallons is what I need to add to my tap water to meet my requirements and will not be the same for everyones water)

GuppyMonkey, can you explain how altering the pH (whether it be by BS or prefabbed pH adjusters) causes osmotic stress on the fish?

 

[aschueler]

GuppyMonkey, can you explain how altering the pH (whether it be by BS or prefabbed pH adjusters) causes osmotic stress on the fish

I can -- it's chemisty after all. All the pH adjusters I have seen so far are so-called mineral acids/bases -- sodium hydroxide, for example. Sodium bicarbonate. Etc. Each time these are put in a solution, they add to the amount of dissolved solute. That by definition raises its osmotic pressure, since you are not displacing any other solute/removing any other.

So if you add X amount of sodium bicarbonate, it also adds X amount of sodium, which is osmotically active. Not far from adding sodium chloride (salt).


What I am most curious about is whether there is a biologic way -- for example, a plant or something -- to adjust the pH without net addition of solute.

 

[guppymonkey]

I think there are ways to buffer the pH naturally. I am not sure though. I always just let my fish get used to my local tap water pH. Its too much work for me to bother with changing things. I am not sure if bogwood will buffer the pH but I know it affects the water conditions in some manner.