How do I gradually lower my pH without shocking my fish?

Question

I currently have a thirty gallon tank set up with two green spotted puffers and five bettas, but am getting three pairs of german rams and would like to lower the pH to a nice 7.0-7.2 (it's probably at 7.8-8.0 now).
I was wondering what product would be best to use and how to go about doing it so as not to shock my current fish?

thanks!

The gsps are very temporary, they were a rescue from walmart.
I know very well that they are brackish, and as soon as I have time to set up their tank I'm acclimating them to brackish. (I do know fish, thank you very much.)
The bettas are separate in suction on to tank betta keeper things (also a temporary thing)
I know a lot about rams and know people who keep them, and I'm fairly sure they don't need that much space. (I wouldn't, but some have success with them in as small as a ten). The only reason bigger tanks are better for rams is that they are more sensitive to nitrate than other fish and most people are too lazy to do the water changes needed.
I was not asking for an opinion on my fish, as I know what I'm doing to some degree. I'm actually quite in with the people at my lfs and they know exactly what I'm doing. I was simply asking how to lower my pH as I feel it's extremely too high for my rams (which are going to be the only inhabitants of the tank)

Oh, and thank you Finatic for your suggestion of using peat in the filter. I'd much prefer doing it that way, as I am kinda wary of chemicals but other than buying water didn't know how else to lower the pH.

Answer 1

There's absolutely no reason to use chemicals/buffers to lower your pH. Stable pH is far more important than using chemicals to maintain a very specific range. The change you are trying to accomplish is really negligible.

If you are using conditioned tap water for your replacement water during changes, then your pH is going to be about 7.5 - 8.0 as that is a very typical range for tap water.

Don't use chemicals to lower your pH. It's completely uneccessary and could ultimately be harmful to your fish. Safe ways to drop the alkalinity in your tank would be to use distilled bottled water instead of tap water for your replacement water. This could get to be expensive. You could also add some driftwood to your tank. If you do this, it's necessary to soak the wood for several days until color stops leaching out of the wood. You can also use peat in the filter, but this will tinge your water a soft "tea" color. This "discoloration" is desirable by some aquarists as it lends a natural look to the tank.

*** edit ***: I should have mentioned that your tank is way too small for the fish you are intending to keep. Furthermore, the fish you want to keep are entirely incompatible as tank mates.
The GSPs are brackish water fish, the five bettas would only work together in a 30 gallon tank if they are female (or two male), and the blue rams need a 20 gallon tank per fish, but need to be kept in male/female pairs. 3 pair of german blue rams (6 fish would need a 125 gallon tank).

A very good test of local fish store would be to walk in and tell an employee offering to help you that you have a 30 gallon tank and would like keep 2 GSPs, 5 Betta and 3 pair of german blues. If they don't tell you the combo won't work and proceed to sell you the fish, politely thank them and leave and never go to that store to purchase fish or to ask for fishkeeping advice.

Hope this helps & good luck

Answer 2

Like finatic already said, stable pH is more important then anything else

But you're aware though that these fish you're planning on putting together are not compatible right?

especially since the green spotted puffers need brackish water




EB


Edit*
It's good that you did your research
another way to bring your pH down a bit is with lots of plants, since you're planning on keeping rams in there anyway and driftwood will help too
It's gonna take some time though, but it won't hurt your fish, because it will go down gradually

And 3 pairs of german rams would really enjoy your tank, but it really needs to be havily planted though

Answer 3

You can do two options: 1.) Buy pH decreaser, and thet'll help bring the pH down a bit. 2.) If you have a lot of big rocks for decor' in your tank, take a few out. Some basic tested rocks can increase the Ph. Also, bogwood/driftwood, can help reduce the pH with its tanic acids.

Angeli.

Answer 4

Why change it. You'll probably screw things up by attempting it and the pH is not that important anyway, especially the amount you are talking about. Don't do too much reading about maintaining your tank or you will end up burying lots of fish.

The first thing you need to do is to read up on tour choice of fish. Puffers are brackish water fish and the others freshwater. No compatibility here.

Answer 5

There are several PH test kits to choose from at your local pet store. One thing for sure is you only do this once a day and in small increments. This might take you a week but it's the safe way to go. 35yr exp

Answer 6

a little bit of baking soda at a time, no need to buy expensive ph decreaser because thats all it is baking soda. anbd i don't totaly agree with fanatic, it depends on where you live how acidy your water is. and bottled water alotta times is plain tap water like pepsi just admitted about aquafina

Answer 7

drop some anti-chlorine into your fish tank but in small amount. I'm not sure which product is the best but I'm using 'arqua-do'.

Answer 8

Put a little less in everyday!