How do I lower the pH level in my 5 gallon tanks?

Question

I just bought 2, 5-gallon tanks so I can get some neon tetras. The websites I viewed said they like the pH to be around 6.8 - 7.0 (or something like that). My pH, levels are at 8.6. How do I lower it? Should I lower it or will the fish be fine?

Answer 1

the pH range can be fine at 9 the most important thing is to keep the pH at a stable level most fish tolerate different pH my tropical tank is at pH9 and my fish do well lowering it had worse affects on my fish as they are used to the high level

Answer 2

As Ice Queen said, it isn't so important that you have the "right" pH, but a stable pH. At 9.0, I doubt that Neons would live very well, but 8.0 is fine (so that is your target pH). To slowly, constantly lower your pH, get a small piece of driftwood. This will leach tannins into the water which lower the pH (yours will be around 7.0 when it is done). Be sure you have the driftwood already in the tank for a week or two before adding the fish. This will give that water a chance to stabilize. Remember to keep Neons in schools (5+ is the best for such a small tank). Email me if you have any other questions.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: DO NOT use the pH alteration drops sold at pet stores. They are very unstable and create stressful fluctuations in pH that is very harmful to fish.

Answer 3

check your tap water to see what it's PH is first,this is probally the culrit.Mines around 8.0,my tanks are 7.4 usually ,i dont test it often.If you have had the fish in there for a significant amount of time its gotten used to the high PH,so I wouldn't mess with it.But if you want to , there are PH decreasers at any pet shop,its not recommended to add chemicals to an established tank though.

Answer 4

You can get a salt which gives you straight ph 7.0 also try a different water source or cleaning out your tank more often/

Answer 5

peat moss is asserted to diminish ph in fish tanks. i offered some for my fish tanks each week in the past so we will see if it fairly works. :) i found mine at lowes. ascertain you verify the aspects so which you are not getting any extra chemical aspects that could desire to break your fish. must be organic peat moss. GL :)

Answer 6

You can buy pH lowerers and higherers at most pet stores. Different fish prefer different pH levels, I would check online for what your fish prefer.