Can I add baking soda to a 10 gallon goldfish aquarium to increase the pH level in the tank?
by Aquaboy on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 | 11 Comments
We had three fish and it seems that the ph level seems to creep below the safe zone. Most of the products available only continue to decrease the ph level. Last night my son went to the Fair with friends and brought home yet another fish for the tank that he had won playing some game! I added the recommended chemicals and of couse the ph decreased even lower. I have friends that use baking soda in their pools, but did not know if this works in fish tanks as well. Will it hurt the fish? If it does work and anyone does this for their tanks please give me specific measurings for a 10 gal. tank. Thanks!
I wouldn’t just because baking soda in not very soluable in water. If you add baking soda to water, the carbonate will react wih the excess acid and for carbon dioxide gas. Since it is in relatively low concentration, the Co2 will probably saty in the watre, and may smother the fish. There are some products that will raise the pH, but as for now, just monitor the pH and don’t add anything. Changing the water (partially) may help too.
Yes it will hurt the fish!
Don’t get in to adjusting the ph. I’m assuming they’re goldfish he won? Most fish will tolerate any ph level, as long as it’s a stable level-one that doesn’t fluctuate. With those ph up/down products, you also have to make sure the kh and gh are proper, and more than likely the ph will just crash and stress/kill the fish.
What chemicals did you add that decreased the ph?
Put some tap water in a glass/cup, and immediately test the ph. Wait a couple of hours, then retest that glass/cup of water and see if the ph changes. If it does change, then when you do your water changes, let the water sit out awhile before adding it. And, 10 gallon tank is way too small for 3 or 4 goldfish. Be sure you do a lot of water changes, ammonia levels are going to skyrocket.
There is one thing that is specially for fresh water tanks and doesnt lower it it keeps it at 7 ph level. Goldfish are extremelly dirty and you have to change the water or get a filter to keep it clean. also check the size of the tank you might be having too many, its about 1 inch of fish per 2.5 gallons of water or around that
you could get some oyster shells and put them in the tank its harmless and will stabilize the ph i would put a good handfull in ,you can get it crushed or whole
I’d worry more about the size of your tank than the pH. Goldfish are very dirty fish (produce lots and lots of ammonia) and need to be in at least a 30 gallon tank, with 10 additional gallons per fish if you want them to live long and healthy lives. I have heard that baking soda is safe to add, but have no personal experience with it. I’ve also been told it’s better to not mess with pH, since drastic swings are more harmful than a gradually changing pH. Goldfish are hardy and do tend to adapt well.
What is your pH level? Goldfish tolerate a pH range from 5.0 – 7.8.
Also if you aren’t doing enough water changes upon your tank the pH will drop slowly over time. This is due to the fact that organic waste (feces, uneaten food) lowers the pH when it starts to decay. Even when your goldfish emit carbon dioxide this will lower the pH. If you are conducting weekly 20% water changes in your tank this usually stops the pH from dropping since tap water tends to have a higher pH and contains minerals that buffer against pH drops.
With that being said I highly suggest you start doing water changes if haven’t been doing it now. Unless you really know how much baking soda you can place into a tank without harming the fish then I wouldn’t do it. You really shouldn’t have to alter the pH for goldfish.
Baking soda will kill them!
I use to work at a pet store and the way we euthanized sick and dying fish was by mixing baking soda and water together in a small tank and placing them in it. They die instantly.
A small amount may not hurt them but… I do not recommend this at all.
There is a product called PH Up that petsmart and petco I believe carry. Try this!
PS- Goldfish require 2 gallons of water per one inch on them.
So in a 10 gallon tank you could really only put in two 2-in goldfish without it being overcrowded.
If you put it in your tank – I guarantee your fish will die.
What is the pH “safe zone”?
A stable pH, even if low, is better than flucuating levels or unnecessary tinkering. I’d advise using baking soda only if absolutely necessary. If used correctly baking soda doesn’t kill fish. Most buffers are comprised of this stuff.
Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) will increase KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of water. I use it all the time with my african cichlid tanks (african cichlids happen to thrive in hard water with high KH & pH conditions…goldfish, however, are different).
What you want to do is add 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 10gal (by dissolving this amount in a cup of tank water and adding it to the tank). Test pH 24hrs later. Repeat (adding and testing) every 24hrs until desired pH is achieved. If you decide to use baking soda you’ll have to replace the quantity removed with each water change.
it will hurt them
use bullseye 7.0 ph medacine
NEVER use those pH up or pH down chemicals. All the stuff that Petco or other have in that section (the never-clean-your-aquarium stuff) is quite deadly to all the life in your tank (including the nitrifying bacteria). If you read up on the listed chemical compounds found even in the water conditioners and the plant fertilizers, you realize if dosed improperly everything can be wiped out in your tank.
The chemicals will kill the fish. Sudden shifts in pH can be fatal. It’s one of the reasons why you have to condition fish before releasing into a tank.
Goldfish are pretty hardy. Any fish that’s been bred over and over again by man is very adaptable to the waters man has grown up with. Wild caught species are far more fragile. Your goldfish will adapt to a low spectrum pH and stabilize. Low pH is far more problematic with anything with shells, like snails and crayfish.
The concern for high ammonia is correct. Change waters frequently. Goldfish defecate and are very sloppy eaters.
Baking soda added in a huge abundance will kill the fish. Unless you know how to dose gradually, I recommend raising pH using crushed coral or oyster shells. Simply put a small amount of crushed coral into a mesh bag in the filter and observe and test the water after a night.
Always gradual!!