ph problem

**vafa** · 01-09-2013, 02:41 AM

my ph has always stayed at a 7.4 but now it is climbing its way to 7.7.
i have chemicals to adjust pH but i know it is harmful to my fish so i don't want to use it. is there any natural way to decrease it. my tap water is at 7.2.
i did a water change and it didn't help. my goal is to get it to 7.2 for my platy, guppy, and a honey gourmai. is the chemical the only choice?

**funkman262** · 01-09-2013, 02:47 AM

Is there anything in your tank that would affect the pH? What kind of substrate are you using? How long is "always"?

Is there any particular reason why you need to lower it? The fish will adapt to the slightly higher pH, and you won't risk major pH swings possible by trying to alter it with chemicals.

**vafa** · 01-09-2013, 02:50 AM

but when i do my 25-30 percent water change there will be a swing
i didn't add any thing to the tank so i don't think that stuff you mentioned will be a problem.
i have had this tank for 8 months

**mojosodope** · 01-09-2013, 02:57 AM

Do not use the chemicals, it is possibly that the water company in your area changed something. It is common to for them to add/remove certain chemicals according to the season. Do a slightly larger water change and test again after 24 hours. If your tank is heavily planted the rise could easily be explained by the plants removing the minerals (kh &gh) which causes the pH to rise, but this only happens after you haven't done a water change for a good about of time.