[oblongshrimp]

Does anyone have recommendations on how to lower the pH in my CRS tank? I have CO2 I can add on but its only on when the lights are on. I have RO water and add more of that to get the KH down. Currently my pH is 7.6 and I need to get it down to around 6.5. Any help would be great thanks guys.

 

[Hoppy]

Standard question: Why do you need to reduce the pH to 6.5?

Is the tank planted? If so, CO2 injection will kill two birds with one stone.

 

[oblongshrimp]

Everyone has been telling me that CRS need a pH between 6 and 7. Gabezone (who I purchased my shrimp from) said he keeps his at 6.5. I could use CO2 but I don't keep it on all day (I run 2 other tanks off the same tank) so I would need to purchase a whole new setup to keep it going 24/7 or keep all the tanks going 24/7 i guess.

 

[TAF CAF]

If you can get it somewhere, use 'Keta-Peat Nuggets' by Marc Weiss Companies, Inc.

I would only use about 1/2 or even 1/4 the recomended ammount to lower the PH slowly. It does very-slightly tint your water, but it is natural and contains no copper, and works amazingly well.

For anyone who needs softer or lower ph water, I really can't say enough about this product. Gentle, Natural, and Works!

 

[guitardude9187]

good to hear, found the link if anyone else is interested

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~MV1571.html

 

[oblongshrimp]

is the eco complete i have for substrate causing problems also with the pH? Is there another substrate that will help lower the pH but won't have an ammonia spike like the aquasoil?

 

[guitardude9187]

i think SMS might do that, but check this out too
http://home.infinet.net/teban/jamie.htm

 

[ianiwane]

Eco complete is not causing the problem. After several water changes it should not effect the pH or kH. Like I said in a pm, just get some test kits are combine RO with tap until you get a kH between 2-4. The pH should follow. Plus in my experience the kH is more important than the pH. Sure you can inject co2 but lowering the pH by injecting co2 does not really help crystals. Be careful with co2 injection and crystals do not go over 25-30ppms of co2.

 

[oblongshrimp]

so with a KH between 2 and 4 the pH will sit at around 6.5? Why would Pedro add acid to his water then to get the pH down further?

 

[ianiwane]

You don't need your pH down to 6.5 that is the point. My pH in my CRS tank sits near 7.0 probably 6.9 or something. My shrimp breed a lot. I've had another tank where the pH was over 7 and they were still breeding.

 

[oblongshrimp]

OK thanks for the help. I will test my KH and see how that is looking.

 

[milalic]

Eco complete is not causing the problem. After several water changes it should not effect the pH or kH. Like I said in a pm, just get some test kits are combine RO with tap until you get a kH between 2-4. The pH should follow. Plus in my experience the kH is more important than the pH. Sure you can inject co2 but lowering the pH by injecting co2 does not really help crystals. Be careful with co2 injection and crystals do not go over 25-30ppms of co2.

Low kh is not equal to low ph in all waters. My kh is 2-3 and my ph is 7.6. I have other buffers in my city water other than Kh that keep my ph at 7.6

I had eco complete for more than a year and my ph, gh, kh in that tank were always high. The effects on mine did not go away fast. I ended getting rid of it.

 

[ianiwane]

i know low kH does not alway equate with low pH. But what I am saying is the kH matters more than the pH.

 

[oblongshrimp]

any recommendations on a pH test? I have heard the Hanna Phep 5 are suppose to be really good....any other suggestions or where I can get a Hanna Phep 5 for a good price?

 

[milalic]

so with a KH between 2 and 4 the pH will sit at around 6.5? Why would Pedro add acid to his water then to get the pH down further?

Because my ph is around 7.8-8 out of the RO unit. I have things buffering the water other than kh

 

[ianiwane]

Because my ph is around 7.8-8 out of the RO unit. I have things buffering the water other than kh

Pedro after filtering water though a good RO the TDS should be zero. There should be nothing in the water at all buffering anything.

 

[milalic]

Pedro after filtering water though a good RO the TDS should be zero. There should be nothing in the water at all buffering anything.

That is in theory, I have read other sites(tropical fish and reef places) and you do not always get TDS of 0 out of RO. There are some salts, etc that the RO unit will not remove completely. Believe me when I say, that I have changed my mebranes, TDS meter,RO unit, etc and still have buffers in the water. I am not saying the TDS are high, but enough to keep the ph at those levels.

 

[milalic]

any recommendations on a pH test? I have heard the Hanna Phep 5 are suppose to be really good....any other suggestions or where I can get a Hanna Phep 5 for a good price?

That one is pretty good.

 

[mrbelvedere]

Get a DI cartridge.

Just R/O leaves water at anywhere from 92-99% pure. DI should take care of the rest.

 

[sunmiztres]

I have a RO unit. when I test the KH, GH, & PH of pure RO water my KH & Gh are 0 but my PH is 7.2 . when I add tap water to get the KH and GH up a bit my PH goes to 7.5 - 7.8 . This is having 2/3 Ro water and 1/3 tap. This is giving me 3 KH and 3 GH. I then run co2 on a controller to bring my Ph down to 6.5. Can CRS live healthy is 1 KH and 1 GH?

any suggestions?