Help to lower pH

**raunchyz** · 16th Jul 2007, 21:31

i recently tested the ph of my new tank (couple of weeks). the ph is shockingly high. strange thing is i am using ADA soil mixed with lapis sand. the ph is around 6.8-7. it is a cherries tank, with a java fern and lots of peacock moss. any ideas how i can lower the ph of my tank so that i can add crs into the tank.

many others out there told me to get new ada soil and change the whole setup, well what other choices do i have. especially those which are effective and not so tedious.

your help will be greatly appreciated. thanks

**Shadow** · 16th Jul 2007, 23:44

are you using new ADA? what is the propotion between ADA and lapis sand? Are you sure your lapis sand does not mix with cruss coral nor cruss shell?

**AquaObsession** · 19th Jul 2007, 19:32

Check your ph meter.

**raunchyz** · 19th Jul 2007, 19:36

to all who have helped me think of how to solve the problem, the problem is currently solved. i used peat to lower the ph. it is reading 6.2 right now. and i hope it stays this way. thanks alot for all the help

**chenkingdom** · 19th Jul 2007, 19:36

Bro, i suggest you get a PH-Down chemical and slowly day by day add a couple of drops till it reached your optimal PH.

This is to prevent your shirmps for not getting used to the sudden change of PH

**Aeon** · 23rd Jul 2007, 20:33

What is the pH of your tapwater?
Aquasoil will lower pH so if your tapwater not alkaline, then something must be raising the pH.

**David Moses Heng** · 23rd Jul 2007, 21:08

well what i did is i put volcanic rock in side my filter for one of my tank. I have also currently one tank where i utilise planting soil from 7-11 as filter media. The pH of both tanks is measuring in the range of five to six and the best thing is that the water is clear.

What i did is that i actually allow the dirty water from the aquarium to be pump into the trays holding the soil and allow the water to flow through them. End result is that the water that flows out of the chamber is almost crystal clear and low pH.

On top of that, my plants are bubbling.