pH

I should know the answer to this question, since iIve been dealing with tanks
for about 10 years, but iIve never come across my problem. Right now my pH
level is a little higher than Id like it to be. And I know they have the ph
UP/Down products, which I do own(but have never used due to a fish store owners
instructions not to use them.
The way I understood him was. pH works a litte like soda(pepsi/coke). The
water in your tank has a certain pH level. After a while the pH will drop. Just
like the fizz in a soda will. And he just instructed me to use baking soda to
UP the pH level. Now I'm sure the guy was trying to make it simple to a 13 year
old kid that I was at the time. I would like my pH to be about 7.2 and its
hovering around 7.8. The fish are acting fairly normal(especially since their
newbies to the tank). Should I just let the pH fix itself. Or should I use the
pH down solution that I have.

On 17 Feb 2004 01:42:05 GMT, (President89) wrote:


The way I understood him was. pH works a litte like soda(pepsi/coke). The
water in your tank has a certain pH level. After a while the pH will drop. Just
like the fizz in a soda will. And he just instructed me to use baking soda to
UP the pH level. Now I'm sure the guy was trying to make it simple to a 13 year
old kid that I was at the time. I would like my pH to be about 7.2 and its
hovering around 7.8. The fish are acting fairly normal(especially since their
newbies to the tank). Should I just let the pH fix itself. Or should I use the
pH down solution that I have.

May I ask what cichlids would enjoy a ph of 7.2?

Every one I've seen is in the 7.5-8.0 (and higher).

I was always pretty successful with my green terror at that pH. Well to make
his color come out. Am I totally wrong here? I mean he still seems fine at the
7.8. Can i just leave it there?

On 17 Feb 2004 13:22:37 GMT,
(Racecardriver030) wrote:

I was always pretty successful with my green terror at that pH. Well to make
his color come out. Am I totally wrong here? I mean he still seems fine at the
7.8. Can i just leave it there?

Humm, your right, it looks like central american cichlids prefer a
neutral pH. Interesting.

Anyway, having learned that, I'd say 7.8 is just peachy. And to the
original poster, I personally wouldn't bother playing with water
chemistry for a measly 0.6 pH - the fish probably won't even notice.

I've always had issues lowering pH and keeping it there, because you
have to remove the buffers before lowering the pH. For example, you
can use vinegar to lower the pH, but wait a few days and it'll be
right back up there because of a high KH. You could filter over
peat...

racecardriver030 is president89 haha.. sorry about that guys. I just noticed
something that i wish i noticed a long time ago. Pet store retail prices are
soo much higher than online stores like pet wharehouse and Al's. I bought a
fluval 404 for about $45 cheaper (including shipping)

On 17 Feb 2004 19:03:44 GMT, (President89) wrote:

racecardriver030 is president89 haha.. sorry about that guys. I just noticed
something that i wish i noticed a long time ago. Pet store retail prices are
soo much higher than online stores like pet wharehouse and Al's. I bought a
fluval 404 for about $45 cheaper (including shipping)

Doh, gotta stop changing your name dude

Anyway, did you buy from Big Al's? I've been eyeing his gallon buckets
of water conditioner, but I've seen a few posts on cichlid-forums
about how people have had problems.

My other issue with Big Al's is I sent them an email over a week ago
asking why the Canadian prices and U.S. prices weren't in line with
the exchange rate (for example, the $4 heater was $11 Canadian, which
is a lot higher than the current exchange), and if I would be able to
order in USD instead.... Welp, I never got a reply - that doesn't make
me very comfortable knowing they ignore potential customers.