Raising the pH in my tank?

Question

I am planning on getting some cichlids in the near distant future. My pH in my current 30 gallon is 7.2. With the cichlids I am looking into I need a pH of 7.8-8.6. How exactly do I raise my pH?
I am looking into having some Texas Holey Rock, if I can get any, or lava rock at the lfs. My substrate will either be the eco-complete cichlid substrate or having a crushed coral substrate. Will those alone help to raise my pH or will I need to do something else?

Oh I forgot to mention that I don't want to use chemicals to raise my pH. I am looking into natural things so I don't have to keep putting chemicals into my tank.

I was just using the 30G as an example of my current pH. The cichlids will be going into a 75g.

Answer 1

The cichlid substrate or the crushed coral would definitely raise the ph of the tank substantially. You only have to change it every few years for it to create the high ph also. Any kind of decorative rocks that you are going to use that are lime based will also raise the ph.

Answer 2

The crushed coral substrate will do much. Also as you mentioned there are rocks that you can add that help. I would stay away from a lot of chemical additives, although you can get those 'pillows' that help. It really doesn't help much in the long term and hard to keep up with. Also monitor regularly. 30 gallon tank is kinda small to keep more than just a few in, and with a higher population you will have more issues regarding the pH and water quality.

Answer 3

Forget chemicals (ph up for example) - they're expensive and unreliable. The products mentioned above by something_fishy can't even be called chemicals - they're additives - and they work. But If you wanted to use additives to raise the parameters, you could check out this link to a cheap and reliable way to do it: Remember - these are additives and not chemicals:

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

That said, I agree with you - using rocks or substrate is the best way to do this while avoiding instabilities - the affect will be less, but so will the inconsistencies. My 75 gallon Malawi tank is set up with lime rock to achieve this. In the past, when I've used more neutral type rocks (lava rock is quite neutral), I've filled a canister filter full of crushed coral to do the job - it works better then as substrate because water is forced over them at a much higher rate. You can also use CC as substrate and it will have an affect, but it can be very dusty and I prefer to use plain beach sand myself.

I've used a mix similar to the link above with success (just make sure you top off evaporated water with plain water), but have since found it much easier just to use materials high in calcium carbonate.

P.S. If you've never been to that website above, take a look around - it's an incredible source of information for keeping cichlids and knowledge is your best friend for these fish.

P.P.S. If you are keeping Malawi's, they'll do just fine in your current parameters - if you are keeping Tanganyikan's, you'll want to modify the water to at least ph 7.8.

Answer 4

I had the same problem...go to a home improvement store(Lowe's) and buy some marble chips. Just rinse them well and add them to the tank. I added them directly to the bottom of the tank and within a week my pH went from 6.8 to 7.6. Something about the calcium in the rocks that breaks down quickly and raises pH naturally. Hope this helps...also crushed coral works the same but marble was only 3 dollars for a 5lb bag.

Answer 5

The substrates mentions and lava rock will help raise and stabilize PH, but you don't want it sitting at 7.2 when you introduce your cichlids.

You can make a mixture of 6 parts baking soda 1 part Arm and Hammer all natural washing soda (not to be confused with their laundry detergent). 1 tsp per 25 gallons will raise PH to 8.0. Baking soda alone is going to raise the alkalinity, it may or may not be enough to put the PH where you want it.

Answer 6

First, you don't wanna raise it too much too fast. Doing so can cause stress or illness to your fish. To raise the pH of your aquarium, use purified tap water rather than distilled or reverse-osmosis water. Other ways of raising pH include adding crushed coral or limestone to an aquarium's substrate or filters, or creating more water flow. To lower the pH of an aquarium, add peat to your substrate or filter, and use reverse-osmosis or distilled water in the tank. Driftwood in a tank also lowers pH. You may also purchase chemicals designed to raise or lower an aquarium's pH.

Answer 7

you can buy these bags of rocks with like shells and some sand, and some water sometimes. these will naturally raise the pH. http://www.aquariumguys.com/ecocomplete2.html

I bought something similar to that, it gets the tank really cloudy at first b/c its unsettled and what not, but within the first day or so that should clear up, i had to clean my filter out a little bit b/c it got so dirty but once the water is clear it'll be clear forever. dont rinse the rocks before you put them in the tank it'll just strip the nutrients needed to naturally raise the pH level, and make sure put the water that's in the bag in your tank too. African and South American cichlids both like this stuff so it'll work for both typed.

If you don't wanna bother with changing your stones if the tanks already set up you can always use the drops but i think the fish will be happier with the rocks.

Answer 8

You can use plain old baking soda that you have in your kitchen cabinets, hopefully. Remove a couple gallons of water from your tank. In a clean pail that you use only for your aquarium, set up your water as you usually would (adding Start Rite, or something similar to treat your tap water). To the treated water, add about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix that around, and check the pH of that water. You can take some more water out of the tank, add another 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to that, check it, add more soda is necessary. Put that in the tank and let the filter run awhile and check the pH. Repeat the process if necessary.

If you don't have fish in your tank, add and 1/4 teaspoons of soda to the tank at a time, letting the filter run, check the ph and repeat the process as necessary.

Answer 9

Fishy, she said she doesn't want chemicals because she doesn't want to deal with adding them. As others have said, the Cichlid sand or crushed coral, along with some calciferous decorations (limestone, marble, sea shells, and certain sands) will raise the pH and maintain a stable pH as well. These will all help raise your pH as well as using the Texas Holy Rock. Also, avoid things like driftwood, live plants, and peat moss. These will all lower the pH making is more resistant to change. Email me if you have any questions.

Nosoop4u

Answer 10

Just go get a Ph Balancer at like petco or petsmart. You just add to get the Ph balance you are looking for. Oh dont forget test strips!