up ph using baking soda? - Fertilizing

claire09876 · 01-09-2007, 12:10 PM

Hello,
I'm fairly new to fish keeping as I've been keeping tropical fish for about 18 months. I have just started to experiment with CO2 to enhance my plants and am using a disolvable tablet every other day. I have only used 3 so far but have been testing ph regularly. I think it's at about 6.5-6.8. I was going to buy a ph-up just incase I needed it but the guy in the shop said baking soda was just as good. He suggested 1/4 teaspoon mixed in water and added to tank would raise the ph slightly. Has anyone every used this and is it safe? Also are electronic ph testers any good?
Thanks, Claire

treepimp · 01-09-2007, 03:37 PM

Adding baking soda to the water will raise your ph and also your KH. I would use baking soda over ph-up because of the phosphates in the ph buffers.

Laith · 01-09-2007, 11:10 PM

Welcome to APC!

Why do you want to raise your pH? I don't see anything wrong with your pH levels...

And what tablets are you talking about here?

Squawkbert · 01-10-2007, 07:04 AM

as to electronic pH testers - they are the best as long as you get a decent one and do any required maintenence on them.

claire09876 · 01-10-2007, 09:57 AM

Thanks for your comments. I've been using Sera CO2-tabs plus. They disolve in the water and release the CO2 over 8 hours (generally). I was worried my ph might drop as a consequence and just want to be prepared so I don't put my fish in dangerous position. Any suggestions on a ph meter? and which are decent ones?

**Cassie** · 01-10-2007, 10:07 AM

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ght=drop+check

A drop checker might be a better idea, since it just stays in the water and you can tell just by looking how much co2 is in the water so you could notice the change as the tablet dissolves. I must say I'm not familiar with the co2 tablets you are using, but I would think that the continual change in pH might be stressful to your fish. Have you thought of going to DIY or pressurized?

ed seeley · 01-10-2007, 10:51 AM

Hi Claire,
I've just bought some of these tabs for my new nano cube. How are you finding them? I used them for a little while on my 40g, but they were way too expensive long term, i'm hoping 5.5g will be a little more economical as the CO2 shouldn't dissolve as fast.

Thinking of using them for a couple of months while the plants establish, then stopping and adding shrimp.

claire09876 · 01-12-2007, 10:19 AM

Thanks for the info on drop checkers (and the link). I had no idea about these. Are they easy to read or can it be 'borderline' with the colours? I've just looked them up on ebay - are the 'knock offs' just as good?
I think I could try one and see what happens when the tablet disolves and if there is a fluctuation they I can look into other methods. What's DIY - is it Do it yourself? Which thead ill I find that under?
All these questions......it's all very exciting though.

claire09876 · 01-12-2007, 10:20 AM

Forgot to ask Ed......why are you adding shrimp - just cos you like them or is there another reason?

hoppycalif · 01-12-2007, 12:29 PM

Part of the idea behind using the drop checker as a CO2 checker is to adjust the KH of the water in it so the color of the pH indicator solution in it is green when the pH is where you have 30 or 40 ppm of CO2 in the water (pH=6.6). If you look at the color chart for your pH test kit you will notice that at a green color you can most easily see changes in the color. If you used a near yellow or blue color for the desired amount of CO2 it is very hard to see changes that amount to large changes in ppm of CO2.

The device is so simple any of the ones that you can buy will work fine, and even crude do-it-yourself versions work just as well. Here is the main thread about drop checkers: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...p-checker.html