raising ph with UP soil?

[Soothing Shrimp]

My ph is around 5 in my UP shrimp sand tank.

 

I'm guessing perhaps that's why my crs hasn't berried except for once.

 

What can I do to raise my ph to 6-6.5?

[High5's]

Sodium bicarbonate. Is that the Up sand you reused? That's strange it's pulling it down to 5 it's suppose to buffer to 6.5. How many time's did you test it? Anything else in the tank that could lower it? 

[Soothing Shrimp]

I just hate to use something that is going to wear out the sand faster.  I see a tug of war, but if that's my only option...

 

Nothing in the tank except the sand and moss.

[High5's]

Mosura ph up is another option and maybe cleaner the sodium bicarbonate. Is the soil new or is it the stuff you had and reused?

[Soothing Shrimp]

re-used.

[High5's]

That's just strange is pulling it down to 5.0. How old is your ph drop test? I have read that after 6 month's they start going bad don't know for sure .

[Soothing Shrimp]

I use a digital pinpoint probe.

[h4n]

Ya that's weird UP sand buffering that low...

But crushed coral can raise the ph

[Bananariot]

Ya that's weird UP sand buffering that low...

But crushed coral can raise the ph

 

Yeah most complaints wiht UP is actually the lack of buffering lol.........like rarely going 6.5 or below.  A funky batch you got there.

[Soothing Shrimp]

My title to the post is misleading.  I have UP shrimp sand, not soil.  However some people have told me it is the same thing, just smaller.

[Soothing Shrimp]

Which method do I have better control over?

[h4n]

Does this tank use a hob or sponge filter?

[Soothing Shrimp]

sponge

[h4n]

Hrmmm... I'm not sure then I've only use crushed coral before and raise it slowly and that was that

[Vicente Mcdonnell]

I have the same problem with my tank at the moment. Its reading 5.4 im using ada amazonia. Its pretty new and fully cycled. The soil layer is pretty thick, i wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Is there a formula for the crushed coral amount in relation to the desired ph level?

Im also worried it will shorten the life of the soil.

[High5's]

I think most these substrates are made for use with tap water, that's why I am giving my ADA aqua soil a tap water beat down for the cycle then switching to ro/di hoping I end up with 6.0 to 6.4. I wouldn't mind being in the in 5.6 5.8 range either. 

[h4n]

Yes adding crushing coral in aquasoil will make them two work against each other.

For adding crushed coral.

I had to add a little at a time and wait, test, add, wait, test.

[Vicente Mcdonnell]

I read crushed coral also increases KH. For CRS who thrive in KH 0-1, how can PH be safely raised using crushed coral? is it advisable to use for bee shrimp?

[JamesHe]

I read crushed coral also increases KH. For CRS who thrive in KH 0-1, how can PH be safely raised using crushed coral? is it advisable to use for bee shrimp?

 

It's ok, in acidic water, CO3- would become CO2 and release back to air, so KH would stay on the low side.

 

CaCO3 in the crushed coral only exhausts the H+ and bring up the pH level.

 

it does push up the GH in the same time.

[Vicente Mcdonnell]

It's ok, in acidic water, CO3- would become CO2 and release back to air, so KH would stay on the low side.

 

CaCO3 in the crushed coral only exhausts the H+ and bring up the pH level.

 

it does push up the GH in the same time.

 

Thanks for explaining, so basically you only worry about KH going up from using crushed coral IF your PH is already on the high side to begin with?

 

I have just put 400ml of crushed coral in a 28 gallon tank.

[JamesHe]

Thanks for explaining, so basically you only worry about KH going up from using crushed coral IF your PH is already on the high side to begin with?

 

I have just put 400ml of crushed coral in a 28 gallon tank.

 

That's a lot of crushed coral.

 

normally I only add one table spoon (into 10 gallon) at one time and see how it goes. you don't want to change the pH too quick which would stress the shrimp.

[Vicente Mcdonnell]

Another question: should the crushed coral be removed once the desired PH is met?

[JamesHe]

Another question: should the crushed coral be removed once the desired PH is met?

No, if you remove it, the pH would drop back to previous level.

 

if pH is stable, then do nothing. if it goes up slowly, remove small part of it, until reach the balance.

 

you may need add small amount over time, to keep it stable.

 

One more thing, if you add crushed coral, keep an eye on your GH. if may goes up slowly overtime.