pH too low?

[benihana]

I have a new tank that has been running for abour 5 weeks now. All the parameters are good except the pH. My pH is about 7.7-7.8 right now. I will be adding a buffer starting tonight. I was just wondering would I be able to add some snails (as I have a bit of algea growing). I don't want to be stupid and buy them and end up killing them becasue the pH is too low, but is .2 really that much of a difference if I will be bringing it back up starting tonight?

thanks for your help

 

[Young Frankenstein]

8.2-8.3 is the norm from what I have read

 

[benihana]

I have heard 8.0 - 8.3 as the norm, my main question is whether or not a handful of turbos will survive in a tank that has low pH for a few days?

 

[awestruck]

They probably will survive but you do need to get your pH up. Reconsider using buffer because it can cause all sorts of other problems. Go to the chemistry forum and talk with either bertoni or Dr. Holmes-Farley--they have the answers and also can direct you to MANY articles regarding pH and how to keep it higher as well as consistent. Good luck!

 

[bnhd3]

i think they should be fine.

 

[IMAGINEER]

buffer will get you there in a day or 2

 

[Deb_&_Aaron]

With my fish only tank that I have had for a year I have never been able to get the PH over 7.7...The snails are still fine...

You will not have a problem.

But you will need to het it up over 8...

My new tank (still waiting to cycle) is luckly over 8...

 

[awestruck]

Yes, buffer will get you there but I have heard Dr. Holmes-Farley explain that buffer can cause other problems. The components of water chemistry (ie: alk., pH, calcium etc.) interact and the buffer may be beneficial. However, it may negatively affect other water parameters. It greatly depends on your water parameters. Again, I would go to the chemistry forum and ask bertoni and/or Dr. Holmes-Farley. Hope this helps.

 

[awestruck]

Well, I just heard that Dr. Holmes-Farley is leaving us. But, I would still go to the chemistry forum and check this out.

 

[xenon]

I dose alk and ph automaticaly gets buffered.

 

[Icefire]

Up your alk @ 10-12 dkh and have lots of surface agitation.

 

[jim48]

You should have your ph at 8.2 and yes .2 on the ph scale is a lot because it is an exponential increase. Far more than it appears!