Regular Member Chrissy_Bee Posted September 8, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 8, 2005 I've posted before that the driftwood in my tropical tank has been lowering the pH. Well lately it's been off the charts (below 6.0) in the past couple of weeks. The tank has mollies, who really like a high pH (around 7.5) so I'm pretty distressed. Anyone know what I can do? So far I've done large water changes, and treated the fresh water to raise the pH, with adjuster. However, even after adding this water the levels are still below 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member DataGuru Posted September 9, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 9, 2005 How many gallons? What's your tap water pH, KH and GH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chrissy_Bee Posted September 9, 2005 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 9, 2005 My tap pH has been a little low lately, around 6.5, I don't know the KH or GH It's a 10 gallon tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yabbie Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 Hey, swap water... my pH is too high and I need slightly acidic water. I'm blaming the gravel which is white. But also my KH is low so the pH can swing. I've been cycling with the gravel for three weeks and I'm about to give up and take it out... or... perhaps... put in driftwood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member DataGuru Posted September 10, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 10, 2005 I'd add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. predissolve in tank water and add slowly to a high water flow area. give it time to disperse and then check pH again. Repeat till you get an increase of around .4 in pH. I'd do this daily till pH is up in the mid to high 7s. It sounds like you'll also need to buffer your change water for partial water changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member lcwinne Posted September 14, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2005 Just to get the math straight DataG.. 1/4tsp Baking Soda per 10gals So on a 140g tank...I should use 3 tsps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member DataGuru Posted September 14, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2005 Close. 2 3/4 tsp will raise KH by 1dh in a 140 gallon tank. See: http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/CalKH.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chrissy_Bee Posted September 14, 2005 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2005 Thanks for the advice, but I opted for taking the driftwood out and putting it in my goldfish tank. I figure the goldie tank is much larger so the effects won't be as bad, espically with all the water changes I do. Also, I know they aren't as sensitive to pH. So far it's working well and looks great too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member lcwinne Posted September 14, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2005 Thanks DataG...That's a wonderful calculation site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member DataGuru Posted September 14, 2005 Regular Member Share Posted September 14, 2005 Chrissy: just make sure it doesn't have any sharp edges. Connie: thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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