Raising The Ph

[Truck]

Hi all, just wanting a scientific answer to my question really.

I am currently raising the PH of my tank with some Sodium hydrogen carbonate and I have so far raised the PH by 0.8 over 3 days, and was wondering whether I should carry on raising it to the desired level (8.6, currently 7.8 was 7) or should I leave it to give time for the filter bacteria to adjust, the fish have been fine and have shown no negative effects whatsoever.

 

[mr130gallon]

truck, does this stuff keep your ph higher? or is it something you have to keep adding.

 

[Truck]

It keeps it high until I do a water change, when I do a water change I have to add some of the DIY buffer to the water being replaced.

 

[waterdrop]

There's always been a bit of a question about the sodium part being left behind over time. In a very few of the writeups I've studied that's been one of the reasons CC (crushed coral) was cited as the method of choice with fish (over bicarb that is.) The other reason of course is because NaHCO3 (sodium hydrogen bicarbonate as you call it or "bicarb" for short or baking soda, for those heading for the kitchen) is pretty much instantaneous in its effect instead of very, very slow, as CC is.

So I think that aspect of the question would be interesting too if anyone has anything to contribute about it.

WD

 

[tea cup ruskey]

correct baking soda laks consistancy ..and stability and in my expirience causes more harm than good i see the changes are gradual cc would change the over all calcium content gradually with a greater buffering capacity more important i emphasise the words slowly enabeling the water to harden enabeling the p.h to rise and a more stable g.h and p.h ......NaHC03 tends to turn this to quickly and u dont want anything suffering with acute alcalosis ....my question why the change and is it to just suite an african bio type or marine...if individual spices maybe consider types of deor rocks substrate etc


kindest regards russell

 

[Truck]

I did this in the end, the tank was for african cichlids, and I did do the change over a period of a week, I made up a solution of water and 2 tsp of sodium hydrogen carbonate and added 50mls of it each day, increasing the PH by 0.1

 

[steelhealr]

Calcium carbonate is the long term choice as it adds to the buffering system. Correct me if I am wrong but cichlids also require harder water? Calcium adds hardness as well as a mineral. SH

 

[Truck]

Yeah, I used magnesium sulphate too, in order to raise the harness.