How Do I Increase PH

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fish lover 561

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Oct 17, 2009
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anyone know anyway to saftly increase the waters ph in your tank from home without buying any products?

i have african cichlids and the ph wont go higher then 7
i need to get it at around 8
 
Try reading here about increasing KH and increasing pH and keeping it steady:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/fwh2oquality.htm

There is a salt mix in this article. I use the "community" dosage in order to keep my pH at 7.2 and KH at 3 in all of my tanks and in my pond. But there is another dosage (he gives the recipe) to use for your situation, as well.

I think this is an awesome way to do the job because it's cheap and easily measured. Just keep testing your pH and KH and add the mix gradually until you get where you want to be.
 
1) you probably do not have any buffers in your water. Get like a bag of crushed coral, argonite gravel, ect to put into your filter===or even better as your substrate.
2) I think your cichlid will be fine at a PH of 7, unless you have some of the more delicate Tangs.
 
You can simply change the subtrate which will keep your waster to their liking, provided this tank only house Rift Valley African Cichlids along with coral rocks/corals. Thus eliminates pH boosting for a while.
 
If it is Mbuna just monitor the fish and the tank you more than likely will be fine if these were tank raised fish..

If like was stated above if you have more delicate fish, than a over haul of the substrate and decor items will need to be added.. Or a bag of substrate in the filter or behind a decor item..
 
tanker said:
1) you probably do not have any buffers in your water. Get like a bag of crushed coral, argonite gravel, ect to put into your filter===or even better as your substrate.
Click to expand...

This is the best option to buffer your water for your Africans; IMHO.
 
I have never had good luck getting pH up using coral or even holy rock. I know most people swaer by it, but I have found baking soda to be a great way to keep pH up. If memory seves me right, it will only buffer up to 8.4 no matter how much you put in, so no chance of overdoing it, and it's cheap as dirt.
 
I use the Malawi Lake buffer with each water change. It's easy and cheap and as I always do the same water change each time and add exactly the same amount each time, the pH stays consistent. I've also not thought the Eco Complete cichlid substrate or holey rock did much for my Ph . . .
 
Much more important than raising the pH is raising KH AND GH. Baking soda alone will only raise the KH.

First off get readings for KH and GH. Then you will know what modifications you need to make.
 
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