Lowering PH
- Thread starter badfish
- Start date
pbmax
Active Member
Peat moss (be careful that it's just peat moss without any additives) and dried leaves can potentially lower your PH and keep it down for a while. I've never heard of using vitamin C, but I wouldn't use them regardless due to possible other additives.
The best way I know of to safely lower PH is to use a PH acid buffering additive (like seachem acid buffer combined with seachem alkaline buffer) or something like ADA amazonia soil.
The best way I know of to safely lower PH is to use a PH acid buffering additive (like seachem acid buffer combined with seachem alkaline buffer) or something like ADA amazonia soil.
sidekicking
New Member
I would stay away from ph reducers most of the time they have a yoyo effect
Whats your ph level right now?
Whats your ph level right now?
pbmax
Active Member
Oh, and I forgot the most reliable method of PH reduction:
Pressurized CO2 and a PH controller!
A bit spendy, however...
I agree though - attempting to lower your PH is usually a bad idea. The seachem products supposedly pull this off while buffering the water against the yo-yo effect. Simple acid additives don't work that well; and when they do finally lower your PH, you've used up all the buffering capacity of your water which can cause wild PH swings (fish don't like this).
Pressurized CO2 and a PH controller!
A bit spendy, however...
I agree though - attempting to lower your PH is usually a bad idea. The seachem products supposedly pull this off while buffering the water against the yo-yo effect. Simple acid additives don't work that well; and when they do finally lower your PH, you've used up all the buffering capacity of your water which can cause wild PH swings (fish don't like this).
hobbyorobsession
New Member
Dried leafs , alder cones, co2, rain water. Peat . ..remember small changes ...or big problems
usually we hear of people tryin to raise ph for africans.....lowering PH for discus ok.... but no need too on your fish.... especially for a F1, or further generation tank raised midas/rd's... they should be fine even in well water with 8.0 ph.... Also, moss, and other ways to lower ph has a water softner effect, and its better to have harder water for your fish... he can deal with the higher ph..... thats why New world cichlids are considered an easier fish to maintain than africans... they adapt really well and are super hardy!
What are your water parameters???? if your up at 9.0 ph, maybe we need to look into something though... lol.... so better let us know what your dealing with first.
if you were just wondering for sake of conversation then I agree with methods mentioned...I especially like moss, and the PH reducer chem you can buy at any LFS... but like sidekicking said, has a big yoyo effect (meaning it will bounce back quickly if not buffered to stay down) and PH going up and down is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse for fish than a steady high or low ph.
What are your water parameters???? if your up at 9.0 ph, maybe we need to look into something though... lol.... so better let us know what your dealing with first.
if you were just wondering for sake of conversation then I agree with methods mentioned...I especially like moss, and the PH reducer chem you can buy at any LFS... but like sidekicking said, has a big yoyo effect (meaning it will bounce back quickly if not buffered to stay down) and PH going up and down is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse for fish than a steady high or low ph.
Fish Addict
New Member
Yeah my tap swings from almost exactly 7 to roughly 8 because the water company switches back and forth between ground and spring water. His water is 7.4-7.6 and he wants it to be 7 or a tad lower because SA like slightly acidic water. I am his brother so I thought I would give you the info since he wasn't replying