Maintaining pH

[Fishface09]

I have P. fenestratus fry...I need to make frequent water changes! 
How do I do this?  I used to have Malawi increase type solutions.  I don't remember their names'.  As I'm typing this message it is coming to me.  Anyone with experience doing this, your suggestions are greatly appreciated!  Wayne

[danwalzer]

The water around here is hard and slightly above neutral as it is, so I would just be concerned about changing your water ALOT. Probably daily with you fry, and at the very least, weekly with your other fish. Maybe use a crushed coral substrate if you want a higher ph. Ammonia is even deadlier in higher ph water, so fresh water changes are that much more important. In a small fry tank, the best way to change water is just to use a piece of airline as a siphon, or just use a cup.

[Fishface09]

Something is stinking in my 10g, I think!
Guess I'm going to have to tear down the tank completely.  Don't really want to do that.  But seems like something might be deceased in the tank.  Wayne

[hooha]

ugh, yeah if it's not obvious what's causing the smell you should tear it down and find out.  If there is something large and dead in the 10 gallon that will kill everything else off in the tank in a matter of days.....

[danwalzer]

ugh, yeah if it's not obvious what's causing the smell you should tear it down and find out.  If there is something large and dead in the 10 gallon that will kill everything else off in the tank in a matter of days.....

........or hours!!!

[Fishface09]

What household product can I use to gradually raise my pH?   Wayne

[Italian1026]

You can use natural buffers to raise ur PH.. How high u want it to go? I use the following for my TANGANYIKAN Cichlid tanks and they all stay above 8.0 PH.   Crush Coral is the obvious choice, Tuffa Rock and or sea shells these will all raise your PH.  And then if its not high enough add either Malawi or Tanganyikan Buffer to raise your PH. I think malawi goes to about 8.2 and the tanganyikan goes from 8.4 - 9 + .   

Roberto

[BrokenBox]

What pH level are you looking to maintain? Maybe try filling a 5 gal. bucket with an inch of crushed coral, add declorinated tap water, stir it up and let it sit for an hour. Then test the pH in the bucket. I've tried using salts to increase pH & met with disaster every time. i stick to using crushed coral. i have heard of some who use a calcium buffer, who had success.

[Sharpfish]

I use baking soda to raise the pH in my brine shrimp hatchery.  However this only in use for 48 hrs. and then dumped as the BBS(baby brine shrimp) are fed off.  I don't recommend using pH changing chemicals in your tanks.  A permanent solution is also better.  PH changing chemicals are temporary, they dissipate or disappear with time and water changes.  This could cause wild pH swings in the tank and subsequently cause a lot of unnecessary stress on the fish.  The damage could range from underdeveloped fish to repeated bouts of ick to death.   Italian1026 and Brokenbox give solid advice, use crushed coral and Tufa rock.  They are easy to obtain and relatively cheap.