How to acidify water?

**Wolfgangs246** · 19th Jul 2010, 08:52

Hi guys,

I recently started a new tank using river sand substrate which the LFS insisted would be more PH neutral than beach sand. I used gravel from an old tank as the bottom layer of substrate before applying this new river sand on top. I also recycled tank water and filtration system from an old tank which used to have a PH of 6.5.

Ever since I made the move (about 2 days ago), the water has been testing at 8 PH consistently. I'm beginning to think the LFS might have been wrong about the sand or something. I'm stocking cory's and rummy nose tetras so this PH level is pushing their tolerance limits.

I don't have any spare filtration or substrate to use at this point, so is there a way I can bring the PH level of the tank closer to 7 as a stop gap measure? And how can I go about identifying the source of the problem?

**Kiatster** · 19th Jul 2010, 13:48

You can add driftwood or Indian almond leaves into the tank. The tannic acid leeched out will reduce the PH.

**Wolfgangs246** · 19th Jul 2010, 15:11

Sorry but can you tell me if it's possible that the hardness of the PH is temporary or a permanent thing? If it's really the sand that is causing the PH change, will the sand lose it's PH bias over time? Or is this going to be a permanent issue where I'll have to constantly be correcting for this? Could there be any other factors that are causing this? Old filter media or poor water management?

**Wolfgangs246** · 20th Jul 2010, 00:28

Hey guys,

Just to give some closure to this issue, I've added Seachem to reduce the PH and some PH buffer to try and keep it in place. Will update somemore tomorrow morning and see if it stayed.

**illumbomb** · 20th Jul 2010, 08:15

peat is quite a good choice to add to try to reduce pH

**Wolfgangs246** · 20th Jul 2010, 09:45

Thanks illumbomb, I had also bought some kind of filter addition thats supposed to help bring the water to 6.8 PH. I'm at work now so I'll have to see how effective it is when I get home. I hope my babies don't do anything rash while I'm gone.

**barmby** · 20th Jul 2010, 13:10

How to acidify water?

Never try to do that unless you are very good with chemistry. Run a search on google, most people will advise not to play with pH..

CO2 can help to bring pH down, but that is not the reason. The reason is plant growth by adding CO2

Over time, water in tank will be acidic because water aged..

**RonWill** · 20th Jul 2010, 14:46

@ Wolfgangs
To add onto the list of natural materials used to lower pH, you can try sphagnum moss (read this). I've also used Seachem's Acid Buffer with good results for setups requiring approx. ph5.5 but add it only in smaller increments and test as you go along.

Also, test the substrate in a separate container and use a decent pH test meter or test strip (I prefer Merck broad range pH strips). If the sand is proven to be the culprit, your options are either to change substrate, change fishes or let them adjust to the new water parameters. They probably won't die due to pH swings (not crash) but they won't breed either.

Memory eludes me but I vaguely recall online info that uses acetic acid (vinegar or something similar) to test alkaline leaching substrate... it sizzles, I think.

**Wolfgangs246** · 20th Jul 2010, 15:00

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I guess the more accurate question would have been how to lower the PH rather than acidify the water. :P Anyway, just to check. If the substrate is the culprit then there is /NO/ way to permanently counter this alkaline bias right?

*Mutter: And I just got the tank looking all nice and pretty too dangit.*

**vulk** · 20th Jul 2010, 17:21

Hey bros, blackwater is also supposed to bring down the PH of the water right? Correct me if i'm wrong...

**Wolfgangs246** · 20th Jul 2010, 22:04

Hey Bros,

I've just checked and rechecked the water PH and it's maintained a 6.3-6.6 ph reading since this morning. I'm very relieved. Seems that my efforts from last night worked out well. I'll continue to monitor the PH levels over the next few days and report back if anything goes haywire from here.

Thanks for all your assistance and feedback guys.

**barmby** · 21st Jul 2010, 07:32

Just be careful with pH dropping too low to 4-5. Once you touch it.. it going to be tricky.

**AA24** · 21st Jul 2010, 14:25

"bought some kind of filter addition "

just curious.. but could you post the product details .. and if its available locally in Singapore, which LFS ..?? ...

thanks..

**Wolfgangs246** · 22nd Jul 2010, 10:21

hi Jerry,

Sorry bro, but I threw the packaging away already. But if you go to Poly art at Clementi area, you should be able to get them to show you the product. Tell them you don't want to use peat moss and you want to reduce the PH level to around 6.5-6.8. The uncle should then be able to show you the product. Sorry I couldn't be more specific.