GSP Tank PH/DH help

[PufferMommy87]

Hello!

My husband and I currently have a cycled 29 gallon GSP tank. I have noticted while doing some research that a lot of places say that a GSP should be kept at a PH of 7.5-8.5 and a DH of 9-19. My PH is currently 7.4 and my DH is quite low at 5. I am wondering what do do, as I have read that it is sometimes more harmful to the fish to raise or lower the PH and is sometimes better to leave it alone. Is 7.4 extremely low for my GSP? If so, I have had my GSP at this PH for a couple of months, should I keep it at this PH? Would is be dangerous to raise the PH? If not, what should I raise the PH and hardness with.

[Pufferpunk]

What is the specific gravity of the tank? What kind of substrate are you using? With the addition of enough marine salt & a aragonite-based substrate, your pH should test out at around 8.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

[PufferMommy87]

gravity is 1.009, and I am currently using gravel, should i use sand? will changing the PH hurt my GSP?

[RTR]

Fish do not and cannot read external pH. They read osmolarity/TDS and certain ions only.

GSPs are not FW fish, they need brakish water. If that is not enough to support the pH in the tank, aragonite substrates will help. Aragomite can be either sand or gravel - that is personal choice. But it is not ordinary sand or gravel. It is not the phH that matters, it is the minerl content of the water..

[Myaj]

As was said, you can change your substrate out to aragonite sand or gravel, and between that and the increased salt levels as your GSP ages, the pH should rise on its own. Aragonite will slowly and naturally raise the levels, its a lot more safe than adding chemical additives.

Raising it will not hurt your puffer, as long as you do it gradually, and honestly, the salt by itself will raise that up quite a bit.

Also, be aware that a 29 gallon tank really only holds 25 gallons, and is too small to keep a GSP in for life.

[PufferMommy87]

The 29 gallon is only temporary, and is adequate for my puffer who is only an inch to an inch and a quarter is size. About the substrate, will doing water changes lower my ph even if I have live sand or gravel in my tank?

[Pufferpunk]

Not if you only do 50% & reconstitute it as BW.

[Myaj]

Just checking, lots of people think a 29 is big enough and don't realize its not nearly 29 gallons.