PH level to low

[Connor]

Testing my water and everything seems to be okay apart from the PH level which is VERY LOW at 5.5!!

Is this safe for my axl ?

I tested my tap water and its PH level is even lower at 5 ( which is worrying)

How do I increase it??

 

[spot26]

Hi, I had this problem once but it was a faulty ph tester. Tap water shouldnt be that low. Are you sure your ph tester is working correctly?

 

[Connor]

Hi, I had this problem once but it was a faulty ph tester. Tap water shouldnt be that low. Are you sure your ph tester is working correctly?

I will buy another tester as soon as possible and check

 

[oceanblue]

UK mains tap water is supposed to be above pH 6.5 to meet quality standards and is usually treated to be above 7 to reduce lead solvency.

If the pH reading is genuine are you using a private well as source? Is there a water softener in circuit?

There are various ways of raising pH, Sodium bicarbonate, smaller doses of sodium carbonate or allowing the water to stand over shells or limestone chips. If this is mains water ask your supplier why it is so acid. This level of acidity will pick up lead and copper to a degree not good for humans, as well as being too acid for axolotls.

 

[Alkylhalide]

My water is under 6 as well, which i dont like drinking now, it was over 7 for a while then they treated it and it has been under 6 ever since(over a year)

What I did was add crushed coral as part of my filter media, you have to be very careful with it and test the waters ph at least twice a day and add the crushed coral slowly as you dont want to shock your lotls by a huge change in ph, and also dont want to put to much and it rise it to high. Its a consistent way to keep your tanks ph up.

 

[Connor]

Still no better, strange as it seems to have dropped very rapidly. I will try crushed coal like you said. I recently bought a new tank that I need to start cycling, will be interesting to see if I have the same problem with the PH