PH Question

[bartonct]

Hey my current PH in my tank is 7.6, is that ok for dwarf puffers? And if not, what's the easiest way to lower my PH?

[edmlfc1]

Here is all the information you need:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_Travancoricus/

[Agnate]

Just as a head's up, please don't use chemicals to raise or lower your pH. It's an overly complicated procedure to (properly) adjust your pH with liquids, and usually results in more harm than good.

You can raise your pH with coral rock (the white stuff) or crushed coral inside a filter bag (which you can play in your filter and near a higher-circulation area).

To lower your pH, you can put pieces of real driftwood, substrates designed for growing plants, or CO2 injection (if you're familiar with using CO2).

I'm pretty sure 7.6 is perfectly fine for dwarf puffers. A consistent pH (ie. the pH that your top-up and water-change water is) is almost-always better than having a fluctuating pH as you attempt to adjust it manually.

[Troender]

I'm pretty sure 7.6 is perfectly fine for dwarf puffers. A consistent pH (ie. the pH that your top-up and water-change water is) is almost-always better than having a fluctuating pH as you attempt to adjust it manually.

I would definitely agree on this.

The PH in the water is affected by both the KH and the amount of CO2 in the water. If the KH is lower than 2, you will proably get a not stable PH. Much of the stuff that is sold to lower the PH, actually lower the KH, and then you're up for trouble. The safest alternative I've found to lower the PH, is oak extract. As I have a lot of South American fishes, I need a PH below 7, and the water around here is above 8 (I've seen it up to 8,6. Ugh!). The safe way to handle that is to store water in tanks, bins and similar, and lower the PH before you pump the water into the tank where you do the water change. In that way you know the water is in the right conditions before you put it into the tank. I do this for all my tanks with South American fishes (but for one where I use a DIY CO2 addition) But again: be aware of your KH. I have a KH at 2, and that is really the limit for keeping it safe. Lowering the PH at this level is risky, and you need to know the product you use, and how it affects your water and tanks.

I am not very fond of depending on substrate or decorations to change PH or other water conditions. That will give changing conditions every time you do water changes (or very little change at all, if you change water before the substrate or decoration manages to affect the water much). If you have a wooden root that lowers the PH, the PH will rise each time you change water (because of the higher PH in the tap water), and then the PH will decrease as the root releases its acids. Next time you change water, the higher PH in the tap water will increase the PH again, and so on... The safe way is to make sure the water is adjusted before you put it into the tank, and be aware that some roots will lower the PH (I once was surprised to find a tank at PH 4-4,5 - that was before I knew that some roots could lower the PH. Well, I learned about it then... )

Some people filtrate water through peat to lower the PH. I have no experience of it myself, so I don't know how it will affect the conditions in the tank.

[Pufferpunk]

Fish do not "read" pH. Whatever comes out of your tap is fine for them.

[mills705]

Fish do 'read' pH although you are right in saying many of the captive bred ones are hardier.
I would not keep Discus in a tank which had a pH of 7 or above as they are sensitive and live in south america where the natural water is at slightly acidic!

For dwarf puffers you are at the pH range. Im thinking of keeping them and the pufferpedia on here will tell you about their water requirements.

[Troender]

I wouldn't keep any South American catfish in PH above 7. Many of them can live in water above 7, but they have a much better life in water with PH below 7. That's the life they are meant for, and our responsibility is to give the fishes the best of care.