How to Treat High Aquarium Alkalinity

Water from a domestic supply differs from one region to another. In some parts of the country, tap water is alkaline and has a high pH level. In other areas, the water is acidic and has a low pH. The pH of water is measured from 0 to 14, where 14 is a very high alkaline reading and 7 is considered pH-neutral. If the water in your fish tank is excessively alkaline, you can take steps to reduce the pH naturally without resorting to chemical intervention.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium pH test kit
  • Driftwood or bogwood
  • Muslin cloth
  • Peat moss
  • String
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Instructions

    • 1

      Test your aquarium with a pH testing kit to ascertain a precise reading. Test kits for fish tank use comprise of color-changing paper litmus strips or a bottle of chemical reagent. Dip the litmus paper into your aquarium and check the result against the color chart in the kit. If your kit has a bottle of reagent, take a water sample in the test tube provided, and follow the instructions on the carton.

    • 2

      Add a piece of driftwood or bogwood as a decoration in your tank to treat high aquarium alkalinity. Driftwood from a pet store is clean and parasite-free, but you should still rinse it before use. You can collect your own wood but it might contain microbes or bacteria detrimental to the health of your fish. Boiling driftwood eliminates most problems, and it has the added bonus of releasing some of the color from the wood that would otherwise leach into your tank water.

    • 3

      Check alkaline levels after about a week to make sure the pH is dropping. If your water is extremely alkaline, you can use peat moss in addition to driftwood. Cut a 6-inch square piece of muslin cloth and place a small handful of peat moss in the center of the square. Draw the corners together to form a pouch, and tie the top with string to secure the moss inside the bag. Drop the bag directly into the aquarium or place it inside your filter and continue to monitor pH levels once a week.