PH question-experienced tank owners please

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Dealing with leveling the tank again, PH spike (high)

Does anyone know of any household chemicals I could use to make it more acidic?

(I know baking soda works to raise it, wondering if there's an opposite.)

[J Francho]

Look for Seachem Discus Buffer and Neutral Regulator.  There are ratios listed for target pH.  The Discus Buffer is VERY powerful stuff.  The Neutral Regulator will ensure it doesn't drop too low.  Discus Buffer is actually a buffered acid that lowers pH.  You will see calcium carbonate actually precipitate from solution with water that has high levels of calcium carbonate in the water.  Nuetral regulator replaces those buffering salts with a measured amount.  It is preferable to premix water for water changes and allow to stabilize overnight.

One key question though: what species of fish are we talking about, and are you sure that pH stability (irrespective if the value is "wrong" according to field measurements) isn't the issue?

BTW, baking soda is only temporary, as it does not replace the buffering elements necessary to maintain a STABLE pH, which is more important than struggling to maintain some arbitrary "right" pH.

If you need more help, PM me, and we can talk tonight over the phone.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Copied from http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/articles/107

Ways to Lower Your pH

Lowering the pH is often more difficult than raising it. There are some methods you can try though.

[ch9679] Filter Through Peat Moss Filtering through peat moss is the most effective way to lower your pH. Some people also use peat moss in their substrate for the same effect.

[ch9679] Add Carbon Dioxide As we have talked about multiple times, increasing the carbon dioxide in your tank lowers the pH. Therefore, pumping in more carbon dioxide would result in a lower pH.

[ch9679] Add Wood Many types of driftwoods will lower the pH. To read more about using wood in your aquarium read the article on this site entitled Adding Rocks and Wood to Your Freshwater Aquarium.

[ch9679] Chemicals There are many products on the market today that will lower your pH. However, just like the chemicals that raise the pH, these pH lowering compounds do not maintain a stable pH.

Also look at http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/ph.htm

Seems like adding some type of wood to the tank sounds the easiert Russ.

Not too sure though.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

J, its an Oscar.

[J Francho]

I spawned and raised Oscar fry in water with a pH of 8.2 and hardness of 11 dKH.  In my opinion, pH stability is MORE important than the actual value.  Also, since Oscars are a high nitrogenous waste output, nitrogen management is best achieved with biological filtration.  BF works best with pH > 7.0.  Like many other fish, ammonia levels < .5 ppm can be deadly.  Nitrite levels are tolerated to slightly higher, though the addition of non iodized salt softens the effect.  Oscars, being a Cichlid, are also sensitive to the final product of nitrification, Nitrate.  i kept my pair in a 70 gal. tank and performed 30% water changes twice a week to maintain Nitrate levels < 10ppm.  

[Raul]

Dealing with leveling the tank again, PH spike (high)

Does anyone know of any household chemicals I could use to make it more acidic?

(I know baking soda works to raise it, wondering if there's an opposite.)

Before adding anything ----> check you carbonate hardness

The reason why it 's a lot more difficult to lower the PH rather than lowering it is the carbonate hardness, calcium carbonate acts like a buffer and unless you deplete it you won 't be able to reduce the PH.

Preferably do not use chemicals to lower the PH, you can kill the fish, if you are going to lower the PH:

1.- It 's better to filter through peat moss, the PH lowers slowly and you give the fish time to adjust to the PH level

or

2.- Treat the water with water softener resins ( you 'll need anionic and cationic resins, water softener pillows only soften the water but do not reduce the carbonate hardness, on the contrary, they increase it )

or

3.- Dilute with R/O or destilled water, to reduce the carbonate hardness.

Now, the big question: why you want to reduce the PH ?

The only times I worried about the PH was when I keep PH sensitive fish or when I bred fish with very specific needs of PH, KH, DH and conductivity ( like Discus ), for regular freshwater fish keeping you don 't need to care about the PH.

[Matt Fly]

White vineagar or pickle juice will do the trick as a home remedy.

[J Francho]

Do not add white vinegar or pickle juice to your tank.  As Raul said, just set a regimen of regular water changes to maintain a stable pH and alkalinity.

[Matt Fly]

If I had special fish in a tank I wouldn't take the cheap wAY out to protect my fish.

The question is about a home remedy for lowering Ph.

It does the trick.      White vinegar is a distilled acidic.     "Distilled"

 Use the test kit to verify the results with a simple testing and that will show you the results in seconds.

     I simply answered the question as it was asked.

[J Francho]

I'd think answering within the parameters of keeping the fish alive was inferred, LOL.

[jamarkwe]

You keeping an Oscar? what size tank, filter, diet etc..

Your main worries should be ammonia, nitrite and nitrate..

Just do weekly water changes of about 40-50% and be sure to use water conditioner...

trust me I have been keeping fish for a long time and currently maintain a 220g, 90g, and 30g with no issues nor a test kit...

The only time I use a test kit is when I'm cycling a new tank with new filter media.... :)happy fish keeping

[skunked_again]

Dealing with leveling the tank again, PH spike (high)

Does anyone know of any household chemicals I could use to make it more acidic?

(I know baking soda works to raise it, wondering if there's an opposite.)

do you have fish in the tank now?

[bigfruits]

x3 for peat moss

what is your ph currently?

are you using ro water?

some stores will sell you some if you dont have a ro filter and you can do a good water change. this would suck if you have a large tank though...