Raising pH help

[MsCichlid]

Hi. I'm new to the list and I need your help.

Anyone have methods of raising pH? My tap water measures 8.5 with hardly any buffering capacity. It measures 118ppm on the TDS meter. I use rainwater in all my tanks. I need to raise the pH in the fry tanks.

Thanks for any help you can offer. :cry:

MC

 

[Neil]

MsCichlid,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

I'm not sure why you would want to raise 8.5pH!? :? I think that you might have made a typo. Let us know what your water really is and maybe we can offer some suggestions. If you are using rainwater, it might just be a matter of "cutting" it with tapwater.
Neil

 

[MsCichlid]

I meant...I want to raise the rainwater's ph and hardness. Since
my tap water has virtually no buffering capacity, would it raise the ph or will I have to add some other medium to raise the hardness? :?

 

[mordor]

Hmm, unless you got real alcaline water fish you do not need to raise pH :lol: Could tell us more about fishes and parameters of rainwater?

 

[MsCichlid]

The reason for raising the rainwater ph in the fry tanks is to get them to grow faster. The rainwater measures 6.0 and <2 degrees hardness.

Right now all the fry get appropriate sized live foods for their size. I want them to grow faster to get rid of them. I need the tank space for exsisting breeding program and for those I hope to obtain.

 

[Z Man]

Francine,
That's the first time I ever heard that pH aided in the growth of fry. I just usually make frequent water changes, like EOD. Of course with all those water changes you would have to re-adjust the pH each time. All I ever have done is as soon as I know the fry are going to survive, I begin adding tap water to the RO with each change. In 20 years I have only once actually changed the pH on purpose and that was for breeding Taeniacara candidi. AND I would NOT go through all that trouble again.

 

[Neil]

I agree with Z! I really don't see any deficiency in the water that you are growing-out your fry. The speed with which they grow is a function of space, food and water changes.
There is some small possibility that certain minerals for appropriate growth might not be present, but I doubt it.
If you are determined to raise the hardness of the rain water, you might try using a product like RO Right. It will add buffering to your water and is fairly inexpensive. But, as Zman said, you will need to add a similar amount for each water change that you do.
I would do regular water changes and feed a varied diet. I bet your fish will grow at a good rate and they are less likely to have the stresses of water manipulation. Good luck!
Neil

 

[MsCichlid]

ph help

Thanks guys,
I appreciate your help. It's weird how after some time goes by without raising fry that one gets stupid and forgets the basics. The more you know, the dummer you get. :lol:

Francine