Ph raiser

[Drumachine09]

I have Malawi Cichlids, and my Ph is usually about 7-7.2, and cichilds need approx 8. I heard that sodium bicarbonate (Baking soda) Raises your ph, but how much do i Use, and how do i prepare it?

[kimmers318]

Since I have never used any kind of PH increaser I can't give you any tips, but I would suggest that you try using the substrate that is created just for high Ph tanks. I am not sure what it is called, but I do know hubby bought it for his mbuna tank (even though we have high PH, hard water), it isn't cheap, and I believe it contains some crushed coral which will help bring the PH up and keep it up. The problem with using additives is A) you have to figure out how much to use B) you have to continue to add them. Finding a substrate that will work will be much easier.

[f1oored]

I have Malawi Cichlids, and my Ph is usually about 7-7.2, and cichilds need approx 8. I heard that sodium bicarbonate (Baking soda) Raises your ph, but how much do i Use, and how do i prepare it?

I use baking soda at 1 tsp per 5 gallons. I mix that with 1 tsp of epsom salt and 1 tsp aquarium salt. Mix it in a small bowl with some water before you add it so you can get it desolved first.

To find out how much you need just start adding the above stuff to a 5 gallon bucket of tap water. Check the pH and once it is where you want it, you know how much to add per 5 gallons. Then add it with your water changes to slowly bring the pH up to where you want it.

[Lady Hobbs]

Why not add some crushed coral and some shells to the tank?

[cocoa_pleco]

crushed coral is excellent for saltwater and cichlids.

Definitely a good PH raiser

[*Sarah*]

My PH is naturally high, maybe I should keep Cichlids instead of Tropicals lol

[Sasquatch]

I'd do as kimmer suggests, you get a nice stable pH that won't be too affected by water changes with lower pH water.

Trust me, I know. :wink2: We ended up with a mislabeled batch of aquarium gravel that has limestone in it and despite twice weekly water changes, we can't get it to budge from 8.0. We left if without water changes over x-mas and over two weeks it went up to 8.4.

Our tap water is around 7.4. Even with 25% weekly changes, it's nice and stable at pH 8.0 and has been for months. Frustrates the heck out of us (we'd like a somewhat lower pH), but it could be useful for you.

[Drumachine09]

Why not add some crushed coral and some shells to the tank?

My mom lived on the east coast all of her life, and has a TON of sea shells. Do i need to boil them prior to putting them in my tank?

[f1oored]

I just did a crushed coral substrate in my 10 gallon fry tank and it didn't push the pH anywhere near where I wanted it to be. The high pH substrate that kimmers is talking about might work better but I haven't ever tried that. I also used bags of crushed coral in my big tank (in the canister filter) and that didn't help either. I think it all kind of depends on how hard your water is to start with. Since your tank is already setup you may want to add the shells and see if that does anything (boiling them should be fine). If that doesn't bring your pH above 8.0 then you can try some other methods.

[Drumachine09]

Allright, thanks everyone.