Safe way to raise ph

[NutZilla]

Hi everybody,

I have this tank that is 3 months old now, using ADA amazonia 2 mixed with a little ADA malaya with full distilled water. I mineralized the water using Mosura Mineral Plus to reach gh of 4. I'm keeping crs in this tank. For now the ph stabilize at 5 which is quite low. Maybe I used too much malaya. I tried raising the ph with heavy aeration and failed. Then I dose baking soda, and managed to reach 5.8. But just in a few hours the ph will drop, and I have to add some more baking soda to raise it again. Is there another way to raise the ph without touching gh value? Is keep adding baking soda in the long run safe for my shrimps?

regards,
Irsan

[Lexinverts]

Hi everybody,

I have this tank that is 3 months old now, using ADA amazonia 2 mixed with a little ADA malaya with full distilled water. I mineralized the water using Mosura Mineral Plus to reach gh of 4. I'm keeping crs in this tank. For now the ph stabilize at 5 which is quite low. Maybe I used too much malaya. I tried raising the ph with heavy aeration and failed. Then I dose baking soda, and managed to reach 5.8. But just in a few hours the ph will drop, and I have to add some more baking soda to raise it again. Is there another way to raise the ph without touching gh value? Is keep adding baking soda in the long run safe for my shrimps?

regards,
Irsan

Is your KH at 0? If so, you might try getting your KH up close to 1. Having a KH of 0/1 will help raise pH at little bit. Rather than adding Mosura in order to re-mineralize your water, you can try mixing some de-chlorinated tap water with your distilled water. Depending on what your tap water parameters are, you should achieve a KH of 0/1 and a GH of 4 or 5 with 10-30% tap water mixed with distilled water. Good luck!

[NutZilla]

Will I get the same effect if I keep dosing baking soda? And is baking soda safe for shrimps? Thanks for replying.

[Lexinverts]

Will I get the same effect if I keep dosing baking soda? And is baking soda safe for shrimps? Thanks for replying.

You should get a similar effect, but it is probably easier to mix tap water. The effect you get from tap water should last until your next water change.

[Plecofool]

Hi everybody,

I have this tank that is 3 months old now, using ADA amazonia 2 mixed with a little ADA malaya with full distilled water. I mineralized the water using Mosura Mineral Plus to reach gh of 4. I'm keeping crs in this tank. For now the ph stabilize at 5 which is quite low. Maybe I used too much malaya. I tried raising the ph with heavy aeration and failed. Then I dose baking soda, and managed to reach 5.8. But just in a few hours the ph will drop, and I have to add some more baking soda to raise it again. Is there another way to raise the ph without touching gh value? Is keep adding baking soda in the long run safe for my shrimps?

regards,
Irsan

The problem you're having came about because you used pure water at the beginning.

I'm also pretty sure you didn't use the power sand because that also would have given you better results.

Using baking soda has it pros and cons.

The problem is when you add it to the water its going to break down into carbonic acid then eventually carbon dioxide leaving behind sodium ions.

This will increase you kh and also charge you soil eventually getting you to your desired perameters but you have to do it
VERY SLOWLY!

I would just follow Lexinverts advice on using tap water because it contains more minerals and trace elements other than using baking soda which would leave you with just sodium.