This video explains 6 ways to lower the pH and soften the water in your aquarium. Many people find it difficult to keep the pH below 7 and therefore never see the proper colouration of their Tetra species, Discus, Angels and Dwarf Cichlids. For successful breeding of these species it is essential to have the pH below 7 and soften the water. Some of the methods explained in the video have the added benefits of also helping to combat bacteria and fungus in the aquarium which greatly helps with the proper development of eggs. The Peat Balls, Alder Cones and Almond Leaves are available from us (we deliver Worldwide) by clicking the following link (opens new window): shop.ebay.co.uk If any are sold out they will not show on the page until we relist the item - please let us know if the item you want doesn't show on the page. Thanks for watching.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Thursday, May 17, 2012
How to lower pH in an Aquarium - Tips and Advice by Tyne Valley Aquatics
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I suppose you could run some of the water through peat, yes. Certain rocks will cause the pH to go up too, most noticeably limestone.
ReplyDeleteCheers. Alternatively could I use this peat ball method, just on a larger scale?
ReplyDeleteCheck any of the 'peat ball' videos. They explain it. Its basically special peat from just above the bedrock in a deep peat bog made into a ball shape and wrapped in a permeable membrane. It sets the pH at around pH6.5 which is perfect for lots of fish species.
ReplyDeleteThats like asking what size pants fit a man - lol.
ReplyDeleteGenerally fish from the African lakes and livebearers prefer the water above pH7 and all the others including tetras, loaches, discus, danios, rasboras etc. prefer the water at pH less than 7. There are exceptions though and its best to ask the fish store when you are interested in a particular species (provided they have some knowledge - not all do)
what is the right ph for all tropical fish.please write.
ReplyDeletewhat is a peat ball.
ReplyDeleteI that is US gallons then it is 1330 litres which is OK for smaller koi and will be fine for the goldfish. Once the koi get to 12" or so they will be better in a bigger home.
ReplyDeletemy pond is about 350 gallons, I have 6 koi fish and 5 gold fish. do you
ReplyDeletethink is big enough? please advice.
I'm assuming that they are in a large tank and not a pond so the almond leaves will provide good background protection from bacteria and fungus both of which can be problems for coldwater pond fish in an aquarium.
ReplyDeletethanks for the video, I just placed an order from your site for almond leaves for my Koi and gold fish.
ReplyDeleteThats way high but most carp species like the pH to be quite high. You could try filtering through peat but you'd need quite alot of peat. Alternately you could invest in an RO unit and use it to filter water which you use to top up the pond as it comes out at around pH6.0. I think that OASE do a treatment called 'proper pH' but don't know how effective it is. It is meant to set the pH at 7.5.
ReplyDeleteWhat can be done to lower the ph in a 5500litre fish pond. Since construction the ph has been slowly creeping up. Its currently sitting around 8.2. The tap water here is about 8.0
ReplyDeleteI have answered the same question for you on a couple of videos. The rocks and gravel in the tank need to come out in favour of sand and wood or anything you use will have a very short benefit and cause pH bounce which is harmful to fish. The plan is to have a lower stable pH and since peat balls stay in the tank they ensure that the pH is kept constant. Compared to other treatments, peat balls (even with shipping) work out much cheaper and last for a a year or so in most cases.
ReplyDeleteI just answered this on the peat ball video but the gravel and rocks are almost definitely going to keep the pH high so the ideal set up is aquarium sand (not coral sand which will raise pH) and wood and plants. Look up 'blackwater tank' videos for ideas of how it should look.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to let you know what I have in my tank so you could tell me if any of these will cause the treatment to be rendered useless. I have two large rocks one found in a river the other is schist, my substrate is gravel and I have two live plants one anubius and one java fern and three plastic plants. Again I would just like to know if it is necessary to remove any of these. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI have tap water with high ph and i tried the ph down by aquarium pharmaceuticals and my ph just bounces back. would it do the same with the blackwater extract? I really need something that wont be a temporary fix. I would like to use the peat balls but im worried the shipping will be expensive because i live in the US. Please help. Thanks
ReplyDeleteuhh whats ph ????
ReplyDeleteThere is a link in the video description to my ebay page. I regularly send products to Australia - the moving bed media and peat balls seem to be popular there.
ReplyDeleteCould you tell me please, with your online store, do you deliver to Australia and if you do What is the website? I cant get the Peat Balls in Australia, we only have lower ph solution for after your tank goes bad, instead of preventing it before hand. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI have a puffer fish a green spotted puffer. He was not doing so well before, but now is doing great. I would like to know what is the ideal PH for green spotted puffer fish.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the profile for your puffer on 'Seriously Fish' website you will see the full requirements for it then decide from that, what needs to be altered if anything. I'm assuming that the ammonia and nitrite is rerading zero and there is salt at the correct concentration if the puffer is a species which requires brackish conditions (some require greater salt concentration as they grow)
ReplyDeleteour puffer is the white belly luminous green head stripe variety it has a strange dutch name translation so i wont confuse the issue, but my little mary puffins has been swimming up and down the glass all day and i was worried it maybe ph level, i have a 54 litre tank and well stocked with plants soil gravel and sand any ideas?
ReplyDeleteGreat video and thanks alot for a speedy reply Greetings from the Netherlands
S. American puffers, yes. Other species may require the water a bit harder and higher pH.
ReplyDeleteDepends on species really.
would you recomend peat balls on the puffer fish my ph here in holland sits aroun 7.5 - 8 mark
ReplyDeleteRain water is good if you live in countries of low population and urbanisation (not much airborne pollution).
ReplyDeleteThe mistake many people make is putting gravel and rocks in the tank which will raise the pH rendering any treatment / additive useless or at best, temporary (causing pH bounce which can be fatal for the fish)
Good thing about the peat balls is that they are in the tank 24/7 so tend to maintain a very stable lower pH which is perfect for S. American species, danios, rasboras, loaches etc