How do I lower the PH level in my aquarium?

Question

I set up a new aquarium about 6 weeks ago. I have been testing the water for PH and ammonia levels regularly. I just checked it tonight and the level is over 9.5, it should be 7.0

Will this drop as the tank matures or do I need to do something now before I lose any fish?

Answer 1

I'm with magicman and Venice here. Is there any chance there was something in the aquarium or anything you put in it that could have raise the pH? Any shells or corals, or substrate made for cichlids?

Check your water source and if isn't this high, I'd find a temporary residence for your fish (fill 1/4 with water from the present tank, add the fish, then fill SLOWLY so your pH changes gradually so the fish aren't shocked). Take any offending material out and do a MAJOR water change. Test again in a few hours to see if the pH is rising again.

Chemicals aren't the answer - they only create a temporary change, and the back and forth pH will only stress your fish. Driftwood, or a mesh bag with peat will lower your pH, but I'd even be concerned using that if your water is truely 9.5 - it would deplete too quickly. You may end up having to do a 50/50 mix of your normal water source and bottled water (or whatever ratio will give you a good pH - it doesn't have to be 7.0 perfectly, many fish will be happy in 8.0 unless you keep a species that needs acidic conditions!).

Good luck with this!

Answer 2

With water this alkaline I can guarantee you that nothing quick will work. Additives will just bounce the ph around and cause more harm then good. Driftwood and peat moss, which do tend to lower the ph, will do nothing when the PH is already this high.

The only option has already been mentioned, which was to mix it with distilled or reverse osmosis treated water in a balance that gives you what you want.

See, alkaline (high ph) water contains salts and minerals that make it alkaline. Any additives, wood, etc. will contribute to try to fight it, but won't get rid what's causing it in the first place is still there- so the water will fight back, and you'll never win.

If your tap water really is this high then the above mentioned mixing of water is your only effective alternative. If you take ph 6 water and mix it with your 9, hopefully you can reach a happy medium.

Keep in mind that while your fish might be recommended at ph 7, any common aquarium fish can easily handle up to 8 or so, and often more.

Also remember that PH doubles with each value. So the difference between 6.8 and 6.9 is much, much less then the difference between 9 and 9.1. At your levels it becomes harder to manage and can be dangerous for this reason: Ammonia and Nitrite are more lethal as the PH gets higher. With a ph of 6 an ammonia level of 1 will be manageable, at a PH of 9, it's fatal.

So your choice at this point is to go through the effort of buying or filtering water for yourself, or abandoning fish altogether and trying perhaps reptiles or something else.

FYI, the reason tap water is usually at least neutral and usually alkaline is because acid water (below ph 7) rusts the metal of the pipes of the water system.

Answer 3

It should NOT be 7. Fish can thrive from 5-9 and beyond so long as they are acclimated. A sudden rise or drop in ph can put them in shock and kill them. Its better to have a stable ph than one thats constantly fluctuating depending on chemicals. If you use test strips, stop and check the water with a liquid kit. Test strips degrade after being exposed to air and won't work properly. a pH of 9.5 would be obvious to you if it is tap water, it would burn you eyes when you shower and it would cause hard water buildup constantly.

Answer 4

Wow, that's high....I'm sure if you check it your kdH or carbonate hardness is sky high too. The best thing to do is check that first. If you don't have a kit then let the store test it. Also test your tap water. If the tap is lower than something in the tank is making both go up. Coral is the biggest culprit of this, but even that rarely makes it go this high. Assuming your hardness is high and you have nothing in the tank to increase it, you will need to mix your tap water with distilled water to lower the hardness and pH. These two factors work off of each other and it's very difficult to lower pH with a high carbonate hardness. Also ask you shop to check theirs and see if it's common in the area or just your local area.

MM

Answer 5

A quick way to lower the PH is to do a partial water change. The PH of tap water would not be as high as 9.5 (its 8 where I live) so if you take out up to half the water and replace it with tap water then your PH will be lowered.

Answer 6

A pH of 9.5?!!? That's what saltwater, or a solution of baking soda in water would have. Are you sure you are reading the test right. I guess it's possible to for really hard tap water to have that kind of pH. (Does your tap water stain your sinks?) If your tap water is not high pH then you've got something in your tank like a piece of limestone rock/gravel leeching into the water.

Answer 7

I was reading that some cities' water ph levels are this high because they are adding a combination of sodium hydroxide, soda ash and carbon dioxide to minimize lead and copper in the water. Man, this is killer water. Either you get soluble lead and copper in your water or you get water that would dry out a lizard's skin! If this is what your city is doing, you're kinda stuck with having to use bottled water I'm thinking.

Answer 8

Hi,do a 25 per cent water change use tap water cleaner this gets rid of harmful stuff in your water.Also ask at aquatic shop if they have anything for high ph.Good Luck also has time goes by you will learn.I have kept fish for ten year & still learning.

Answer 9

u can buy salt than lowers the ph of the water u just add the salt every day hope that helps

Answer 10

You can lower your PH by adding bogwood in your aquarium set-up.