how much baking soda to add per 10 gallons to raise pH?

Answer 1

No way of predicting, since the amount will depend on the existing water chemistry.

I'd have to ask why you want to change the pH. Unless it's something extreme, you fish will probably be okay - there's no need to try and get a perfect 7.0. I could understand if you were keeping some fish that required a high pH (like some of the African cichlids) but you couldn't keep these for long in a 10 gallon tank. If you're keeping saltwater, I wouldn't advise using baking soda to raise the pH -there's a product called kalkwasser for saltwater that's much better.

The problem you (and your fish!) will face is that if you try to adjust it, you'll never be able to keep it stable - every time you do a water change, the new water will be a little different. The fluctuation in the pH will hurt the fish more than having the pH not be perfectly neutral. Most fish will be fine in pH from 6-8, and I've kept tropicals in water that was 8.3 out of the tap. So unless the pH is below 6, I would leave it as it is. If you absolutely need to change it, add some crushed coral to a mesh bag and put this inside your filter.

Answer 2

It is likely that you don't even need to change your pH, as long as you have a stable pH (even if it is a little off). By attempting to change your pH, it may harm your fish more than if you kept it at the "wrong" pH. If you really want to change your pH, instead of using baking soda, a more consistent option would be to add crushed coral to the filter. It is a permanent solution to raise pH and keep it at a stable level. Baking soda will have to be added every week, but coral is for life (well that was corny). Good luck!

Nosoop4u

Answer 3

The real question is why do you want to change the pH?

pH is one of the parameters in aquarium keeping that is best left alone. People make a big deal about the pH of their tank, but unless your tank is above 8.5 or below 6.0 there really is no reason to mess with it.

The nature of water makes it very hard to change the pH and keep it stable. Water wants to buffer the pH so to change it you need to add a lot of chemicals until you hit the point that the buffering cannot do any more. The pH can then change dramatically and this change is very, very harmful to your fish.

Unless you have water that is so far outside the range for aquarium fish (6.0-8.5) you are better off leaving it alone.

It is far better for fish to have a stable pH in a tank, than the "correct" pH for a fish.

Additionally most fish you get in stores are farm raised in water that doesn't match their "native" waters. So they are already used to water in the 6.5-7.5 range and can thrive in waters even outside those ranges.

Answer 4

What's your ph reading? And what kind of fish are you keeping? If it's within 6.0-8.0, most fish will handle that range just fine. It's usually not recommended to mess with the ph. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll most likely end up shocking/killing your fish when the ph crashes-which is what usually happens. Here's a link that talks about ways to adjust your ph if you still end up doing it:

http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

And, the site isn't working at the moment, but check it later, has some good advice and suggestions.

Answer 5

If you are keeping common tropical fish you are best off not to play chemist and just leave the water alone. Maintaining the tank every week with water changes and vacuuming will keep things stable.

If you are keeping rift lake cichlids or other fish that thrive best in harder, more alkaline water, the best thing to do is learn about how parameters work so you can change it with knowledge and not mess it up. Using B.S. alone may only work temporarily, depending on how your water is, and cause instabilities. Plus, how much you use depends on what type of water you are starting off with in the first place.

Here's a series of good articals that will answer your question and more:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/hardness.php
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gh_kh_ph.php
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/buffer_recipe.php

Answer 6

i will assume that you have a saltwater tank, 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of new water, it raises buffer, for pH use pickiling lime, 1pt baking soda and 3 parts pickiling lime, its around the canning supplies. it will raise pH, alk and calcium. if you have a freshwater tank it is most likely fine, a stable pH is better that constently messing with it

ps. kalkwasser is calcium hyrdoxide laboratory grade, pickling lime is calcium hydroxide but its human grade