Godly3vil Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hey, does anyone have any ideas on lowering ph? In my main display tank the ph is quite high (7.8+) and I would like to lower it to around neutral. I have heard adding more driftwood should help is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan7 Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Yep should do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 or you can put some peat in your filter. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 or both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I know you said natural, but seachem neutral regulator is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I know you said natural, but seachem neutral regulator is great I'm trying to cut down on what chemicals I use, I used to use that API proper ph7.0 but it killed my plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Tap water in Invercargill is 7.2 and drops to just under 7 so shouldn't need to add anything unless you have a different water source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Tap water in Invercargill is 7.2 and drops to just under 7 so shouldn't need to add anything unless you have a different water source. I just tested the water out of 3 different taps in my home and all 3 readings are above 7.5...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Leave them 24 hrs and retest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 What is the hardness (GH/KH)? Without knowing that it is hard to say what you need to do, if it is low a bit of driftwood or peat should do the trick, but if its high you'll be pushing the proverbial uphill unless you go for something like RO or rainwater for water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Leave them 24 hrs and retest. Its always been high since I moved in, I don't think much is going to change in the next 24 hours. I'll give it a go though and let you know. I was thinking maybe the pipes that supply my house might be to blame? any thoughts on this? I'm not sure about the GH/KH as I havn't got a test kit for it (I know, but I'm a poor student). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 LFS should be able to test it for you, take a sample of your tap water in. Otherwise you could try collecting rain water and start using a small amount of that each water change until the pH starts to drop. Too much and it will be unstable though. Is there anything in the tank (substrate, rocks etc) that could be making it high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I have only lived here 2 years (Tay Street) but Ph tests I have done in the past were always around 7.2 dropping to about 6.8 overnight. Tomorrow night I will check my storage water (1000L) and post result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 As promised, Frontosa tank 6.8,catfish tank 6.0 (heaps of driftwood), storage tank 7.0, HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Went and purchased another ph test kit today just to be sure it wasn't a dodgy test or w/e, after running the tap for 35minutes still readin 7.5+.... so don't know. Think I might just go hunting for some more driftwood. Also any idea where I could get some peat from to add to my filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 after running the tap for 35minutes still readin 7.5 Waste of perfectly good water, there's no need to do that. Just put the water in an open container, somewhere out of the way and test it a day later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 LFS should sell small bags of peat, or try a garden centre (just make sure it doesn't have anything added to it). Put it in a stocking and rinse well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 I have never had a problem with pH in my tanks. And I have never tested for it since I was first learning fish keeping. When the LFS says... "you need this... and this... and this". waste of money. Driftwood and plants keeps my tanks pH low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 the choice of substrate will be a limiting factor as well, most fine gravels buffer your pH towards 8.0, and some that are sold as Aquarium gravel buffer towards over 9.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 I have never had a problem with pH in my tanks. And I have never tested for it since I was first learning fish keeping. Do you run a "high-tech planted tank" presumably with CO2 and never check the pH? How do you know you don't have a problem with it if you've never checked it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 I have never had a problem with pH in my tanks. And I have never tested for it since I was first learning fish keeping. When the LFS says... "you need this... and this... and this". waste of money. Driftwood and plants keeps my tanks pH low. I've never brought anything that the main LFS has told me to, they are pretty un-informed when it comes to fish in my opinion. Not helpful at all and they don't seem very interested either. I do believe you should always have the main test kits just in case something goes terribly wrong. 99% of people agree with me and so does every book I've read on the subject. Better to be safe than sorry if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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