Most freshwater aquariums, specifically community tanks, thrive at a neutral pH.
Do you have fish of varying species requiring different water conditions? The safest thing to do is to make it as neutral or close to a pH of 7 (the natural pH of water) as possible.
While just about all freshwater fish can withstand any pH between 6.5 and 8.5, some need more acidic water.
This calls for acidify your aquarium water to make your fish tank reach a pH level that matches the needs of the fish species under your care.
Read on to understand when to acidify aquarium water and how to do it.
When Is It Necessary to Acidify Aquarium Water?
If the pH in your fish tank is so high that it exceeds the recommended range within which your fish require, it can be fatal.
It damages the fishes’ gills, and all you need to do to counter this is to acidify your aquarium.
For example, if you have a blackwater biotope aquarium with species and a set-up resembling Amazon’s tannin-filled rainforest region, the water should be soft and more acidic.
The pH should range somewhere between 5.0 and 6.0. If the pH levels increase to above 6.5, you’ll need to act hastily and acidify the water to stabilize the acidity to the optimal level.
Similarly, if it’s a community tank, the PH should be around 7.0. If you notice that it’s nearing or has exceeded a pH of 7.5, you’ll need to act fast to protect the fish in your care and prevent injury or even death.
It’s worth noting that the acidity levels or, in simpler terms, the pH of your aquarium water should always remain relatively stable.
In fact, it’s recommended that the pH never deviates by .1 to .2 at any given time.
How to Establish That the pH in Your Aquarium Needs Lowering (Acidifying)?
You can’t tell the pH of your fish tank without conducting regular testing.
Depending on how established and stable your aquarium is, you may need to conduct pH tests as frequently as once every week. Otherwise, you can do it once a month.
Professional aquarists recommend using any of the following methods of testing your aquarium’s pH:
- Aquarium pH test kit
- Digital pH meter.
- pH test strip or litmus paper.
Once you’ve established that the readings from the tests are not within your target range, you should act swiftly toward acidifying your fish tank.
How to Acidify Aquarium Water
The best and safest way of acidifying your aquarium is by using natural methods at your disposal.
You can use some light chemicals, but these tend to act very quickly, lowering the pH too fast.
This can harm your fish, making their health deteriorate or even causing death.
Some safer alternatives that you can use to acidify your fish tank include:
1. Cleaning Your Aquarium
The first step towards acidifying your fish tank once the PH levels are off is by cleaning it.
By cleaning the tank, you reduce ammonia levels in there. Remember, ammonia is the chief contributor to increased pH in your aquarium.
Cleaning the aquarium helps eliminate waste from fish, the main source of ammonia, and food leftovers.
During the cleaning process, ensure to clean the gravel to get rid of any debris. While cleaning your decorations, avoid using detergents or soap.
In addition to increasing acidity, cleaning your aquarium helps control infections, keeping your pet fish safe from life-endangering diseases. The quality of water will remain high all through.
It’s also recommended that you change about 10% of the water daily. Alternatively, replacing 30% of the water every week goes a long way in acidifying aquarium water.
Also read: How to Check Ammonia and Nitrate Levels in Aquarium
2. Adding Peat Moss
You may be wondering how adding ordinary peat moss to your fish tank can lower the pH and acidify the water. Well, it’s a highly effective way to keep pH levels within the required range.
Upon introducing peat moss to your aquarium, it releases gallic and tannic acids into the water. These two acids increase the overall water acidity. Additionally, they reduce water hardness.
Remember to give the peat moss sufficient time to do its work. Otherwise, an instant dipping and removal will do your water no good.
Unfortunately, adding peat moss often alters the color of the water in your fish tank, turning it yellow. That’s because it has a brown-yellow color itself.
And although this may have no side effects on your fish, you could try to fight it by soaking the moss in a container or bucket for several days. Doing so reduces the amount of discoloration that’s bound to occur.
The amount of peat moss you need will depend on:
- Current acidity levels of your tank
- Size of aquarium
- Type of peat moss you use
3. Driftwood
Adding driftwood to your fish tank is another method you can use to acidify aquarium water.
Unfortunately, like peat moss, it causes color change to the water moss, but this causes no harm to fish or plants.
You should use driftwood to lower the pH of your aquarium water only if you have fish species that enjoy being in a driftwood environment.
While such fish love the presence of driftwood because it allows them to play and hide, some species get stressed.
Note that not every driftwood is ideal for use in an aquarium. Only purchase those designed for use in aquariums, not any other you come across on the beach.
Some may be unsafe for your fish. Also, ensure you select clean driftwood and before introducing it to the tank, remove any dirt or debris on it.
A common practice among many aquarists is boiling driftwood in saltwater to sterilize it. Doing so also helps lower the discoloration effect of driftwood in aquarium water.
4. Indian Almond Leaves
Indian Almond Leaves, also known as catappa, also offer solutions to your aquarium water acidity concerns.Â
Adding the leaves to your fish tanks and allowing them to decompose over time releases tannins in the process, helping lower the pH and acidify the water.
You can put in the entire leaves or soak them overnight, then strain the water and add it to your aquarium.
Do catappas have side effects? Very minimal. They tend to change the watercolor, although soaking the leaves before introducing the leaves can significantly reduce discoloration.
However, you need not worry because color change cannot harm your pet fish whatsoever.
In addition to their acidifying properties, almond leaves have antibacterial characteristics. That means they can eliminate certain harmful bacteria from the water, protecting your fish from certain diseases.
5. Upgrade Your Aquarium Filter
The role that the filtration system plays in your aquarium is essential. Filters help kill the bacteria in water, which in turn helps lower the pH.
Therefore, if your filtration unit is not functioning well, or is the wrong size, by all means, don’t hesitate to upgrade it.
Additionally, always check the filter and remove any debris and clogs in the biofilter.
6. Avoid Changing the Decorations and Substrates
Avoid frequently changing the design and decor of your aquarium.
As much as it’s a brilliant and thoughtful idea to bring in new decorations in your fish’s home, regularly changing can cause an increase in the pH. For fish species that require acidic conditions, this may be harmful.
Also, avoid adding dyes, shells, minerals, or lime rocks in the fish tank. These can cause increased alkalinity.
Some toxic reactions resulting from these substances may end up killing your fish.
7. Reverse Osmosis
Reversing osmosis removes ions and molecules from the water, further cleaning it. By using a partial semi-permeable filter to reverse osmosis, you can eliminate just about all the contaminants in the aquarium.
The filter keeps out the heavy ions that harm fishes, allowing only the tiniest of ions through.
Granted, it’s a costly method of lowering pH, but a most effective one with impressive precision you can’t achieve using other methods. It ensures consistent optimal pH levels.
But keep in mind that because these filters come in large sizes, they’re suitable for use in big aquariums.
8. Vinegar
According to scientific research, vinegar can acidify hard water.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which through the process of ionization, releases hydrogen ions. What’s more, bacteria and other microorganisms in your aquarium metabolize the acetate.
While using vinegar to lower the pH, make sure you use it in the right amounts.
Wrap Up
Using any of the methods mentioned above, you can effectively increase the acidity levels in your aquarium.
Lowering the PH is the best way to keep your fish safe and healthy and give them a suitable home.
Test the acidity levels at least once a month using a pH testing kit specifically designed for aquarium use.
These are available at your local pet store. If the pH is not as close to the acidity level you’d like in your aquarium, apply these five tips to acidify your aquarium water.
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