Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hey guys, so I've got my cichlids waiting to move into their new 20g home and last night was water change night. I took my readings beforehand and noticed my nitrates were a bit high, plus I saw a trace of nitrite. So I decided to do a pretty much full tank change - I was planning to switch from gravel to sand anyway, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. This morning, I rechecked my levels and everything's looking great, except for one thing: my pH. It was already pretty low at 6.5-ish, but after the water change, it dropped to 6. I know cichlids prefer high pH, so I've been researching ways to raise it safely. Any advice on how to do it without making the change too drastic would be awesome. My fish seem fine for now - they were waiting for food when I woke up and had definitely been playing in the sand while I was asleep. Now they're happily playing tag, hanging out in their caves, and checking out the cat. It doesn't seem to be bothering them, but I'm sure I'll have issues down the line if I don't get it sorted.

I'd recommend trying limestone and sandstone rocks - they're calcium-based, so they'll dissolve slowly over time and help neutralize the acids in the water. Just add a few rocks every couple of weeks and keep an eye on your pH levels; it should start to rise naturally.

Thanks so much, your advice is super helpful. You're like a total expert on this stuff, I really appreciate it.

There's a lot more at play here than meets the eye. To start, we need to know the GH and KH of both your source water - presumably tap water - and tank water. What are the readings for each? And how about the pH of your source water, making sure to out-gas the CO2 when testing?

The pH is closely tied to the GH and KH, but here's the thing: rift lake cichlids are adapted to live in water that's moderately hard, or harder, with a pH above 7. Given your tank's pH dropped to 6, it's likely the GH and KH are too low.

Don't be fooled by your fish seeming okay - trust me, they're not. These species have spent 15,000 years evolving to thrive in water that's moderately hard and basic, and their physiology relies on it. Once we have the numbers, we can find a solution. Simply raising the pH with shells or rocks won't cut it - I've been there, and it doesn't address the underlying issue of low GH.

Hey guys, sorry for the delay, got caught up in the 4th of July celebrations. I didn't have a test for GH or KH, but I plan to grab one this week when I'm out getting supplies. I had picked up the API master kit last time I was there, but I didn't realize I needed the others since my previous fish were fine with my pH. In the meantime, I took coltin's advice and added some limestone, and also added a pinch of baking soda in my last water change as a quick fix. I just bought a cuttlebone today, too, since I've heard it helps and I've got snails in my 50g. My last test showed the pH is now around 8, so it seems like this has helped for now. I also tried looking up my city's water info online, just in case, but couldn't find anything. I'm heading to the LFS tomorrow after work, so I'll grab that test and get back to you with the results.

I'd advise against using cuttlebone for this purpose, it's mainly composed of calcium, but it tends to float and accumulate a layer of slime over time. Limestone and sandstone are still your best bet for a more natural and controlled pH increase. As for your pH spike to 8, I'm guessing you might have added a bit more baking soda than just a pinch.

Raising the pH is only part of the equation, the other crucial piece is increasing the GH - and limestone rock just isn't going to cut it. It's not going to make a significant dent in your pH levels unless you're willing to turn your tank into a limestone quarry.

I strongly advise against using baking soda - it's not a viable solution for raising GH, and in the long run, it's going to leave you with a pH that's all over the place. It might seem like a quick fix, but trust me, it's not worth the risk of fluctuating pH levels.

To really get to the bottom of this, you need to find out the GH and KH of your source water. I'd recommend reaching out to your local water authority - they should be able to provide you with this information. If it's not available on their website, pick up the phone and give them a call.

Hi, I'm getting a bit lost in this conversation. I think I'd trust boomer's advice on this one, he seems to have a good grasp of the situation. I've seen Colin suggest limestone and sandstone, but boomer's explained why that might not be enough.

@momisla4, I'd follow boomer's advice, he's making some solid points. If you just use limestone and sandstone, you might end up with fluctuating pH levels, which could be bad news for your fish.

Limestone and sandstone are basically made of the same stuff that a KH test kit measures - calcium carbonate. These will raise the pH, and the amount you add determines how fast it goes up and how high it gets. A few small pieces of limestone will neutralize acids from food and waste, keeping the pH stable. More limestone, and the pH will keep rising until it hits its max, around 8.4.

For those African Rift Lake cichlids, they need hard water and alkaline water. Limestone and sandstone will raise the pH, but not the general hardness. To increase that, you need to add calcium and magnesium chloride. The easiest way is to grab some African Rift Lake water conditioner from a pet shop and add it to the water.

One thing, though - you've got Ramirezi dwarf cichlids in the tank too. They come from different environments, with different water chemistry needs. I'd rehome one group, either the Rift Lake cichlids or the Rams. The Rams are smaller, more peaceful, so I'd move them to a smaller tank and leave the Rift Lake cichlids in the bigger one.

Colin, just to clarify, I don't have any rams in my tank, I'm actually planning on getting some in the future for a different tank. I've moved my Africans to a new 36 bow front and so far, they seem to be loving it - the new substrate with sand, gravel, and shells is a hit. As for the pH, it's currently sitting at 8.1, which is a big improvement from where I started. Unfortunately, the LFS I went to didn't have a GH or KH test kit, but I've ordered one from Zorchzon and it should be here by Monday, so I'll have a better idea of what's going on with my water parameters then. The Africans seem much happier in their new home, and they're definitely enjoying all the new hiding spots and caves - it's been fun watching them explore!