I saw this in a Trade me auction

[jayci]

I will throw in tip for fish when Ph is to high dont buy stuff from shop add Baking Soda around half tsp for this tank then check level

I thought that the baking soda made the Ph higher

oh and it's a 34ltr tank.

[nemines]

if you add some vinegar it'll help your plants grow too :lol:

[Caryl]

Baking soda raises pH.

[Ira]

Apparently baking soda does lower PH slightly at first, when you add it to the water the carbonate in it creates CO2. But once your airation has outgassed all of that, you're left with the calcium that increases the PH.

[nemines]

i thought baking soda's formula was Na(HCO3)2...where's the calcium?

but seriously, it does raise your pH and i personally would avoid using it on a 34L community tank.

[jayci]

if you add some vinegar it'll help your plants grow too

Very interesting. Please explain more. How does it help? How much to add? What type of vinegar?

[Ira]

i thought baking soda's formula was Na(HCO3)2...where's the calcium?

but seriously, it does raise your pH and i personally would avoid using it on a 34L community tank.

Sorry, Meant to say the sodium.

[Anna_&_Chris]

i use baking soda to definately rise the PH not lower it in my cichlid tank. my ph is about 8-8.5 , half a spoon for a 34 liter community fish is way way too much.i put 2 teaspoons for 200 liters. dont put any baking soda in there at all. just get that PH down stuff