Low PH Balance?

Question

my PH is about 6.4 right now. i just set the tank up about 28 hours ago, and put my fish in just a few hours ago. is it ok for the PH to not be right at 7? and if not, is there anything that can boost it a bit? or should i let my tank take its course?

Answer 1

It's fine unless you're keeping a species that requires a higher pH (mostly African cichlids). The more you do to try and change the pH, the more unstable it will be, and the fluctuation is more stressful to the fish than a pH that isn't exacly 7.0. Most fish are capable of living in a range from 6.0-8.5.

If you do anything, adding a little crushed coral in a mesh bag to your filter is a better (and cheaper) way of raising the pH than using chemical stabilizers.

Answer 2

The most important thing is not to change the ph too rapidly. You can add small amounts of baking soda to raise the ph, but just a TINY bit at a time. 6.4 is a little low for typical freshwater fish. There is a product called pH-UP. Add tiny amounts of it daily. Maybe change the ph one tenth of a point a day. 6.5 tomorrow, 6.6 the next day, etc. When you hit seven, you can stop. After that, you can try a product called Bullseye 7.0. I don't advise it's use at this time, because it will bring your ph from 6.4 to 7 very quickly, possibly harming your fish. Bullseye can lower or raise ph to 7.0 because it acts as a buffer solution. It will help your water resist changes in ph over time. Remember to add it with every water change.

Next time you set up a tank, try running it with the filter on for about a week. You need time for the appropriate organisms to take hold in your tank water. These organisms help to ensure water quality, and they tend to overpopulate at first, causing cloudy water. 28 hours is really too early. I believe i've seen a few products that claim to allow you to put fish in right away, but frankly, I trust the old fashioned method, and I'd say most other experienced hobbyists do as well.

Answer 3

Forget about changing the pH,you have bigger problems if you haven't cycled your tank. Those poor fish are going to have to live in toxic water for almost two months. Be very careful about the ammonia content of your tank. It will be OK for a week or so,depending on if you overfeed or not. Right now,food is the worst enemy your fish have.Don't feed them every day,and when you do, feed them only the tiniest amounts. The fish will be fine with one feeding a week for the next 5 or 6 weeks,then if the Ammonia and the Nitrite levels haven't killed them you can start daily feedings.
You should do a bunch of reading about things like "The Nitrogen Cycle,Maintaining beneficial bacteria colonies,testing for Ammonia,Nitrites and Nitrates,and what those test results mean to you and your pets.
If the pet store people try to sell you something to speed up this cycling process,look for another pet store,they don't know what they are talking about.

Answer 4

Depends on what fish you have, for most fish 6.8 is the lowest they like it usually around 7.2 is good for a community tank.

Is your alkalinity right? Anyway you can use Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to adjust the alkalinity and Arm and Hammer All Natural Washing Soda to raise the PH. One tsp of a 6 parts baking soda 1 part washing soda mixture should bring the PH up to about 8.0 per 25 gallons, so about 1/2 a tsp should do your tank.

If you don't want to do all that you can buy PH plus at your local fish store.

Answer 5

That's too low. H2O has a natural ph of 6.8. The water is very soft and acidic for fish, you need buffers. I use Kent's R.O. Right and Neutral Controler 7.0 will hold the ph stable for you. Test your tap water, its likely comming from there.

Answer 6

use ph up for a couple days until youget it up to 7.0 then go to your lps and get a buffer. seachem 7.0/ bullseye 7.0 they both are good. start adding it weekly it will help stablize your ph and stop it from drifting. you can also use it to adjust your ph in your tap water when doing water changes. baking soda is the exact composition as ph up powder but you may have trouble measuring it. if you put coral in there it may bring it up too high. stick with the buffers for now.

Answer 7

should be ok, but if you want you can do 25% water change just to boost up the PH if you want.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

7 is the perfect one but the range can be from 6.0-7.6 as long as your between that your fine