How to Raise Alkalinity Buffering in an Aquarium

Water quality represents the single most important factor determining the success or failure of an aquarium. The chemistry of aquarium water affects the health, color and breeding success of fish. The alkalinity of aquarium water tends to drop as acids from the metabolic waste of fish are continually released into the tank. The aquarist therefore needs to check the alkalinity on a regular basis and buffer the water as required.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish keeping manual
  • Alkalinity test kit
  • PH test kit
  • Two, 10-gallon plastic buckets for every 100-gallons of aquarium water
  • Aquarium chlorine remover
  • Plastic rod
  • Aquarium heater
  • Towel
  • Aquarium gravel siphon
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the correct alkalinity for the species of fish that you are keeping. Fish from the Amazon River require very soft water, with an alkalinity of between 0 and 8 DKH, while African cichlids live in hard water with a higher alkalinity of up to 14 DKH. Marine fish also require a high alkalinity of between 7 and 12 DKH.

    • 2

      Use an alkalinity test kit to test the alkalinity of your water.

    • 3

      Use a pH test kit to test the pH of your water, as an alternative to testing alkalinity if you do not have access to an alkalinity test kit. Alkalinity prevents a sudden downward shift in the pH. A low pH will indicate that your alkalinity is also low and requires buffering.

    • 4

      Add a commercial alkalinity buffer to the aquarium, as per directions. The amount that is added depends entirely on how low the alkalinity has dropped and the amount of water in the aquarium.

    • 5

      Replace 10 percent of the old aquarium water with new water, to replace ions that buffer alkalinity. Siphon the gravel during the water change, to prevent further drops in alkalinity.

    • 6

      Fill a 10-gallon plastic bucket with tap water and add one teaspoon of chlorine remover. Stir vigorously with a plastic rod.

    • 7

      Set an aquarium heater to the same temperature as your aquarium water and place it into the bucket. Leave the bucket and water overnight.

    • 8

      Place an old towel on the floor below the aquarium and stand an empty bucket on the towel.

    • 9

      Place a gravel siphon into the aquarium. Hold the large diameter section of the siphon just above the aquarium substrate and place the opposite end into your mouth. Suck once on the tube and place it immediately into the empty bucket.

    • 10

      Hold the exhaust end of the tube in the bucket and push the large diameter, hard plastic tube into the gravel bed in the aquarium. Debris and detritus that has settled between the individual pieces of gravel will flow up the tube, with the water that is siphoning into the bucket.

    • 11

      Move the large diameter tube from one section of the substrate to another, until the bucket is full of old water. Break the siphon by lifting the large diameter tube out of the water.

    • 12

      Turn off the heater in the bucket and leave it to cool down.

    • 13

      Remove the heater from the bucket and pour the new water into the aquarium.