My recent reading showed my pH to be around 6.8 or so. Suggestions. Everything else looks good. Nitrates and Nitrites are all good. Water is a bit hard. Alakalinity is also low. Obviously. What should I use?

Thanks,
Xander

What is your KH level ?

Around 80 ppm Koko. As of 9:00 pm EST.

I would add some crush coral to the tank either in a stocking or in the filter system......1/2 cup per 10 gals should give you enough to help stable the ph in the tank

hi xander
i have been through Framingham lol
i live in Southeastern MA
and my water is also 6.8

although you have a better buffer at 80ppm.. i have maybe 20ppm in mine if i'm lucky...
i've been quickly learning water chemistry..

lol i just bought a 20lb bag of crushed shells/coral.. need some?

Thanks guys. I live near Westboro, MA. You?

Attleboro, sits on the RI line.
i used to work in Brookline.. used rte9 sometimes (though not when i had to be somewhere on time)
my hubby currently works in Hudson

onto the pH
only have been struggling with the pH since i set up a new 20gal for my comet.
so far, (week 1) everything is ok, no major pH fluxes

i have 2 experiments going - trying baking soda in one container and crushed coral in another

baking soda is good, but i sill dont know what amount i actually need. the research and math formula doesnt seem to be working. the baking soda in my tests so far have increased to pH to more than i wanted.

the crushed coral has been seeping, but the buffer reading is still in the light yellow range (Low). the pH though, has only risen by .2 (from 6.8 to 7.0) but the buffer reading is what i'm looking for...

so i'm still trying to determine what it is i want to do for my tank. (i'd like to try these before using the pH products.. but i havent yet gotten the results i wanted)
-Toot

If you can get hold of sea shell, crush them into power and place them into a stocking and put it into the water.. crush sea shell works too and are more effective than coral.. and do take note that you need to treat the sea shell thoroughly first (boil it hard !!) and whether crush coral or sea shelf, you need plenty..

lastly, do stand by a few calcium carbonate pills.. yes, any calcium carbonate pills from pharmacy and MAKE SURE there are no other additive.. these can used to stablise PH in case of emergency..