Fresh water aquarium pH 5.2 How to increase pH? Is it kind of infection? What to do? Please HELP!!!?

Answer 1

Assuming your test kit is accurate, you need to address the causes of a very low pH such as you have.

First, you likely have a large buildup of organic mulm resulting in high amounts of DOC (dissolved organic compounds). The end result is high amount of nitric acid production which will lower your pH especially if your KH is poor. This will also result in a poor Redox which lowers the fish ability to osmoregulate and resist disease.
In these conditions you are also likely to have low calcium and other important minerals as well.

I would perform regular vacuuming of your aquarium of about 25% water changes every other day. Do not try and rapidly raise your pH or KH via water changes or products, as this can shock your fish (from osmotic change) and if high amounts of ammonium is present this can be converted to ammonia above 7.0
Also check your filters for organic buildup, especially filters such as canister or wet/dry filters. Rinse these filters with de-chlorinated water.

Next check your KH and GH levels; these should be at least 50 ppm and 100 ppm respectively.
The KH in particular is important for pH control and stability. The use of Baking soda in a pinch is OK, although this is far from my first choice as it will result in less stable KH than products such as SeaChem Buffers will.
Do NOT use pH Up products as these do little to add important stability.

For GH, you can add mineral blocks such as Wonder Shells or place a bag of Aragonite in your filter.

Please read this up to date article about KH, pH, GH for much more information about this subject:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumKH.html

Here is more information about SeaChem Buffers:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html

:~) C

Answer 2

Your aquarium is "sour",that is, full of rotting stuff. If you clean it all at once you risk killing your fish,start doing 20% water changes every day,no more. Vacuum as much of the gravel as you can without draining more than 20% of the water. Next day do the same thing only clean some different gravel.
The reason for the small water changes is that if you raise the pH too quickly the ammonia in the tank will change to a more toxic state and the fish will perish.
Test the pH of your tap water,and when the tank and the tap water test the same change to weekly 25% water changes and don't let it get this bad again. Your fish will thank you.

Answer 3

I'd also add to Carl's answer that you should consider objects you've added to your tank. Driftwood will also lower pH, as can some rock you may have collected on your own. I have lovely sandstones in my area that would make great looking rock ledges, but when I put them in water, materials dissolved from the rocks to lower the pH into the 5.2-5.5 range. This typically happens in areas where there's coal, and iron pyrite in the sandstone dissolves, creating sulfuric acid. Best to stick with what you buy for your aquarium, unless you test the effects first.

If a second test (preferably by a second source) confirms your results, and your water source doesn't have a pH that low, you should look at gravel cleaning and tank decor for your source.

Answer 4

You have waited far too long between water changes. The tank is crashing and the fish will die at this ph. To correct begin changing water like 50% daily until the ph gets at or above 7.0. Test your tap water's ph. You may have soft acidic water from the tap but its not very likely. If it is then you will have to purchase some buffers, to get these buffers go to an aquarium speciality store, not petco or petsmart. Ask a pro what you need to buffer the water.
Most tap water is alkaline, if it is alkaline out of the tap, then you have gone too long between water changes causing the tank to go acidic. This is really a deadly situation for your fish.

Answer 5

It's because water has buffering properties...bicarbonates in it that absorb acids so when you add an acid which is what PH down is the water "bounces back" so to speak Personally I stay away from liquid PH adjusters....7.8 is fine for most fish...and I wouldn't be overly concerned with PH cause fish can adjust to a PH that is outside their optimal range....6.5-7.5 is fine for most fish and if it's a little higher I seriously doubt you will have any problems....if you used R/O water instead of tap - this will lower the PH and personally, if that's the route you choose to go, that's the best way IMO to lower PH.

Answer 6

Don't add those pH buffer chemicals they sell at the pet stores.

Carl is right on the money. Your problem is a pH crash and the only fix is good, clean water and a thorough gravel vac. You need to do it soon, because pH below 6.0 makes it really hard for your good bacteria to do their work and your ammonia levels will be rising.

To prevent this from happening again, keep your water change schedule up! Weekly is a great guideline.

Answer 7

In my opinion Carl S has the most accurate information, I just wanted to add that if you live in an area where the water pH is naturally low (as I do, although not that low) crushed coral in a flow through bag in the filter or in the flow from the filter is a good and easy way to raise the pH.

Answer 8

There's a lot of stuff rotting like left over food/dead fish, etc. Do a 50% water change today and then 25% everyday after. Clean the gravel as much as you can to get the rotting stuff out. If that doesn't help then add Ph Buffers or add a little bit of baking soda. I use baking soda to help bring the Kh for my planted aquarium but it rises the Ph a lot though, so don't too much baking soda at one time.

Answer 9

well this is how i go by the ph level. if you check it and you didnt add any ph stuff before you checked it than I change the ENTIRE tank. that should get rid of the parisites in the waters. and thewastes under neath the gravel pile up after a while. so do an entire tank change and your ph level should be fine.

good luck!!!