Lowering PH for WC

Lkittredge · 11-19-2012, 08:25 PM

I have a 20L tank that is using active soil and the PH is 6.0 or so. I have 5 CRS in the tank currently and use remineralized RO water (PH 7.0) I read in the noobie shrimp keeper article to use a shrimp safe powder (Mosura) to bring the PH down to do the water change. I wanted to get additional opinions on what people use if anything to lower the PH of the water used for water changes. Tried to do a search on the forum for this but got an error multiple times so thanks in advance.

somewhatshocked · 11-19-2012, 08:30 PM

If you're using RO/DI water, you don't have to worry about it. There's no carbonate or any solids in RO water to allow pH to be set.

It'll balance out with the rest of your tank.

Lkittredge · 11-19-2012, 08:36 PM

Kind of what I was thinking, but did not know if the small and temporary PH bump up would be an issue, particularly if I get higher end shrimp down the road.

somewhatshocked · 11-19-2012, 09:08 PM

Won't be an issue at all, as hardness in the water won't be altered since you're likely replacing it with water of the same mineral content.

Lkittredge · 11-19-2012, 10:06 PM

Thanks

somewhatshocked · 11-20-2012, 01:05 AM

Sure thing.

Just remember that folks have been changing water like that for years with no issue. As long as you're using clean water, a nice remineralizing product and monitoring parameters occasionally? You're all set.

If you do mess up? Everybody on TPT has your back.

Mau5 · 11-20-2012, 01:15 AM

Sorry for hijacking the thread OP

, but what if the water going into the tank isn't RO/DI? Just plain old tap water that's probably in the 7.8 pH range.

Lkittredge · 11-20-2012, 01:56 AM

Thanks somewhatshocked, I am using the salty shrimp remineralization product. It gets the RO to a GH of 5. I test the TDS, GH, KH, PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate about once a week. Have done African Cichlids for 20 + years but new to shrimp and really enjoying them so far.

Mau5, NP on the thread hijack, good ? I hope experienced people respond to.

somewhatshocked · 11-20-2012, 02:26 AM

There's more at stake than pH. 7.8 sounds like disaster zone for Crystals.

But what's the KH of the water? GH? TDS?

Generally, tap is a huge no-no for Crystals unless you live in the Pacific Northwest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mau5

Sorry for hijacking the thread OP

, but what if the water going into the tank isn't RO/DI? Just plain old tap water that's probably in the 7.8 pH range.

11-19-2012, 08:25 PM	#1
Lkittredge Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Carrollton/Lewisville TX Posts: 72	Lowering PH for WC I have a 20L tank that is using active soil and the PH is 6.0 or so. I have 5 CRS in the tank currently and use remineralized RO water (PH 7.0) I read in the noobie shrimp keeper article to use a shrimp safe powder (Mosura) to bring the PH down to do the water change. I wanted to get additional opinions on what people use if anything to lower the PH of the water used for water changes. Tried to do a search on the forum for this but got an error multiple times so thanks in advance.

11-19-2012, 08:30 PM	#2
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,665	If you're using RO/DI water, you don't have to worry about it. There's no carbonate or any solids in RO water to allow pH to be set. It'll balance out with the rest of your tank. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

11-19-2012, 09:08 PM	#4
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,665	Won't be an issue at all, as hardness in the water won't be altered since you're likely replacing it with water of the same mineral content. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

11-20-2012, 01:05 AM	#6
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,665	Sure thing. Just remember that folks have been changing water like that for years with no issue. As long as you're using clean water, a nice remineralizing product and monitoring parameters occasionally? You're all set. If you do mess up? Everybody on TPT has your back. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

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11-19-2012, 08:36 PM	#3
Lkittredge Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Carrollton/Lewisville TX Posts: 72	Kind of what I was thinking, but did not know if the small and temporary PH bump up would be an issue, particularly if I get higher end shrimp down the road.

11-19-2012, 10:06 PM	#5
Lkittredge Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Carrollton/Lewisville TX Posts: 72	Thanks

11-20-2012, 01:15 AM	#7
Mau5 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 20	Sorry for hijacking the thread OP , but what if the water going into the tank isn't RO/DI? Just plain old tap water that's probably in the 7.8 pH range.

11-20-2012, 01:56 AM	#8
Lkittredge Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Carrollton/Lewisville TX Posts: 72	Thanks somewhatshocked, I am using the salty shrimp remineralization product. It gets the RO to a GH of 5. I test the TDS, GH, KH, PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate about once a week. Have done African Cichlids for 20 + years but new to shrimp and really enjoying them so far. Mau5, NP on the thread hijack, good ? I hope experienced people respond to.