Raising my pH and kH

Hi,

I am quite new to the whole water testing thing so I went and bought a 6 in 1 water test kit from my LPS. The test kit is one of those strips....

I did a test last night and saw that my pH and kH is a little low. they measured around 6 and the test strip noted that this is a bit low...

How can a raise the pH and kH in my tank water?

I have a Boyu TL-550


Thanks in advance

 

I heard adding baking soda raises your kh. I know you get pH increases at a LPS

 

Ernstb:

A pH of 6 and a kH of 6 isn't that bad. The test strips will always tell you get to 7pH, but often this is unachievable practically.

Generally fish can survive in different pH, as long as it is CONSTANT. Meaning that if your tanks pH is 6, and your tap water is 6, then leave it for now. You will find that if you change the tank to 7, and then throw in tap water in a water change, you will be fluctuating the pH. The fluctuation of pH is actually more dangerous to the fish than a constant of 6.

I'm not too clued up on the kH... but I would recall from previous threads that if you get the kH right, the pH will balance out properly. But again... you would need to make sure that whatever water you add to the tank is the same kH as the tank.

 

TL 550 - isnt that the all in one marine tank?!

 

yes it is...just remove the skimmer and it is a tropical tank :bigsmile:

I don't have a lot of space where I currently live so I will only get a larger tank once I get a bigger place then the TL-550 will probably become a marine tank.

 

ok - if you fiddle with your water they will die.... start adding some shell grit or crushed coral to the filter