The fish in your aquarium will only thrive when the pH level is maintained at a certain range. Having the pH take a nosedive, then chances are that your fish will be affected. Your fish that was swimming around quite happily could now easily start showing signs of weakness. Some of the causes of the drop in pH levels can be the changes in the natural biological environment of the aquarium.Additional causes would be the unconsumed fish food and the decaying matter found in the tank. These are reasons enough for you to keep on monitoring the pH level of the aquarium more often.
It is common to get most aquarium owners using the chemical treatments in an aim to raise the pH levels. As much as they work, the raising of the pH could be done too rapidly and that is not good for your fish. The best solution for this case would be using the natural methods of raising the pH slowly and steadily.
Below we get to learn about such methods you could use for raising your aquarium pH naturally.
1. Using crushed corals
Among the many methods of raising the aquarium pH naturally, this one is seen to be the most effective. The coral skeletons and shells are known to have high levels of calcium carbonate compounds in them. You would be happy to know that they can gradually improve the pH levels with ease without putting the fish at risk of anything. You simply need to place a couple of bags filled with crushed corals in the aquarium and let them work the magic. You could still add the crushed corals in the filter so that the water is enriched whenever it is filtered.
You will not have to spend a lot of money just to get the coral reeds in your tank. The price of the crushed corals will make anyone easily use them for raising the pH levels in aquariums. The crushed corals are also easily available where you live. Simply visit a store that sells related items to an aquarium and you can be sure to get the corals.
2. Using dolomite chips
Whenever you see some differently colored gravels in an aquarium, they are usually the dolomite chips. Many people think that they just for beauty, but that is not always the cause. These stones are important for raising the lower levels of pH in the aquarium. The best part is that the raising of the pH can be done efficiently without worrying about having an effect on the fish.
These chips come rich in components such as calcium and magnesium all important for changing the pH levels in the water. The effect is that it change the alkalinity of the aquarium water, thus ending up raising the pH in the process.
Many people would love to use these chips as they are easy to find and use. You can get them from stores selling aquariums and other related products. When it comes to using, you can just deposit them in the fish tank and wait for them to handle the low pH levels.
3. Use of limestone
Some methods are only good for either the freshwater or the saltwater aquariums. Things are different for the limestone, as they will deliver the best performance whether it is for freshwater or saltwater aquarium. The limestone is effective in raising the pH because they are rich in calcium carbonate an important component for making the water more alkaline.
When it comes to availability, it should be easy to get the limestone. With construction sites using them more often, finding them could be as easy as visiting a construction store. They are not only important for raising the pH level, but also help decorate the fish tank. They often make cave-like structure when viewing the aquarium with such stones in it.
4. Macroalgae
The macro algae will give your aquarium a total transformation that you might have always wanted. The aquarium will now have the look of a real seabed. Some people might wonder why to use algae for raising the pH instead of removing it. Well, this type of algae is the beneficial type. It will help raise the pH of the water and still get rid of the other useless algae found in the aquarium water. In the end, you will always end up with a healthy aquarium with the right pH just like it is supposed to be.
You would be happy to know that it is the less tedious and cheapest way of making sure that the water in the aquarium remains at the right pH. You would not have to do anything extra once the algae are set in the aquarium. You will simply have to let it grow to keep the pH within the desired range. The algae type is also great to act as a source of food and minerals for the marine life in the aquariums.
You will still have to keep an eye on the algae so that it does not overgrow to end up spoiling the beauty it had created.
5. Adding baking soda
This could be another easy and natural way for you to raise the pH levels of the aquarium water. You will have to be careful with the amount of baking soda that you add to the fish tank. Sometimes people add a lot more than what is required. The result is that you will end up with a fish tank with the severe spike of the pH levels, thus killing the fish. You will also have to add it more often, it is not just a one-time thing and you are done.
Conclusion
Many more methods may still be available to help with raising the pH level of the aquarium, you can do an additional research to learn about them. You always have to be careful when adjusting the pH level. Choose a method that will not end up causing the spike to the pH. Having severe spikes could lead to more trouble rather than solving.
Just where do you find macro algae?