Low PH value

[CM Media]

Can anyone advise how to increase the PH value in a planted tank.

I have this 4ft planted tank that the PH reading is 4. I do a 30% water change and the PH manage to rise to 5.2. For a planted tank, the PH should be 6.8. How can I increase the PH to the desired value and maintain at that value?

I'm using a digital PH tester from Hanna. Another question, should we recalibrate the tester prior to use and how to maintenance the tester?

[vinz]

Are you injecting CO2? Using DIY or cylinder? Bubble rate? Tank Size?
Whats your KH?

[Simon]

prolly, yr KH value is very low..

[CM Media]

I'm using a CO2 cylinder with manual valve. The buble rate is about 1 buble every 2 sec. As for the KH did not measure.

[CM Media]

If the KH is low, then what is the retification that I can do to correct it?

[vinz]

Low pH probably caused by abundance of CO2. Suggest you
- Lower your bubbling rate for now and see any change in the next few days.
- Test your KH and use sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda (not baking powder) to increase it. Your target KH is 4 to 6. Once you get there, adjust your bubbling rate to adjust your pH to your target level.

[vinz]

Oh, FYI - the KH helps to buffer (i.e. reduce) pH swing due to amount of CO2 in your tank.

[CM Media]

Thanks for the precious advise. By the way my tank is 4ft and has 243l of water. How much of sodium bicardonate should I add?

[juggler]

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On 8/26/2002 9:42:15 AM

Thanks for the precious advise. By the way my tank is 4ft and has 243l of water. How much of sodium bicardonate should I add?
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I used this method, also mention at this website http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html :

1 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder!) in 50L of water will raise it by 4 dkH.

And someone else also mention that not to increase more than 2 dkH in 24 hours so as not to stress the fish.

[CM Media]

I've manage to increase the PH to 6.8 by adjusting the KH. But the water seems a bit cloudy not as clear as before. Is this normal?

[juggler]

Very cloudy? What did you use? Baking Powder or Baking Soda?
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) shd be the right stuff. Baking Powder will make the water cloudy. Check the contents of the bottle.

[CM Media]

I'm using baking soda. But the water as compare to before adding shows a bit cloudy. The soda dissolves in the water like sugar is clear.

[vinz]

Was the cloudiness immediate? Is it a new tank? Now that you pH is better, maybe algae starting to get a foothold? If the cloudiness starts getting yellowish or greenish, then its likely green water. Guess work on my part though.

[anakjoh]

My pH was low ~ 6 because I use peat but it was the same after I removed the peat - is it due to the tannic acid released by the driftwood? CO2 is on 12 hrs daily (maybe 1 bubble per sec). The water is slightly yellow but crystal clear. kH today is 3. The loads mainly tetra n the rest's neutrals, so I guess it's a happy family in the tank.
Any forseeable problem in future?

[DEA]

first thing i think of is for you to calibrate your pH meter
the meter should have instructions about how to calibrate it using a buffer solution
for mine, i use the pH 7 solution in the test cap, and adjust the reading until it reads 7 (simple rite?)

[bclee]

It is normal to have pH of 6 when you have CO2 injection with a KH of 3. Raise the KH to 4 or 5 and you will get a pH of about 6.5. Of course, like DEA said, check if your pH probe is reading the correct value.

In my experience, fishes are not greatly affected by pH off by not more than 2. Unless you are trying to let your fishes breed. Otherwise, should be ok.

BC

[CM Media]

Anyone know where to get the sloution for calibrating the PH tester? I'm living at Hougang area.