What to do about high PH?

[cdearing]

When I tested my water today, the ph read about 8.6, which is as high as the test card goes. All other tests were good. Someone recommended a lime water drip. I have no idea what this entails other than that I figured out that the lime water is made with Kalwasser. Please tell me that I don't have to buy another contraption for my little 29G tank. :eek3: I've also read that adding vinegar can help. How much? I am topping off with RO/DI and doing water changes as well with RO/DI. I have added a skimmer (huge- so that I can move to a larger tank at a later date) and have lots of green algae (I think it's slime) on the glass and rocks, etc. My tank is about 2 months old.
I will be seeing you club members in a few weeks at the March meeting. Let's see who can give this newbie the best advice.
Charlie would say, "Geez, Cyn! Have a glass of wine and relax!" along with some other good advice, I'm sure.

[Ramer]

Maybe a water change. I'm doing 10gal a week on my 90. Trying to rid hairalge. I dont know enough to tell you more sorry.


Brandon

[cdearing]

I'm doing about 15% a week on mine. I'm due again for a water change this weekend. Hope it helps.
BTW - do you know how your hair algae problem started? I think I am growing some on a little piece of rock that has a shroom on it that I purchased from LFS. What should I do? I don't want it to take over but I also don't want to kill the shroom.

[Urban_S]

You could do a kalkwasser(aka pickeling lime and water) drip. It will lower ph and eat phosphates(which algae feed on). Do do a drop u can simply use and containor and start a peace of airline tubing.

[charlie]

I hate to be a putz, but Kalkwasser will raise PH. He is correct about the phosphates, it will help with them, but now is not the time for Kalk.

Cyn, give me a call at home tomorrow afternoon, and we can give this a good think around.

[Urban_S]

Don't listen to me, I'm retarted....... The bad part is I use kalk to raise my ph.

[Sarmo]

thanks Charli,

i was getting worried as i read. Kalk raises pH, big time. i would change water but before you do that i would make sure my test kit is working right. i have never been able to get my pH that high. good thing i guess?

you could always bring a sample to Charlies house and he could use one of his calibrated pH monitors on it. that would be where i would start.

[cdearing]

Urban,
I wouldn't say you were retarded, just ph challenged.
Thanks for your input though.

Sarmo,
Thanks for you offer to take a water sample to Charlies. That is a good idea. I'm sure Charlie will be able to get me straightened out. I have just done another water change but haven't checked levels again yet. I really don't like my test anyway. It's pretty hard to read. I still have the green algae, almost like powder, growing on everything. I have to use an algae scraper every day. I'm ready to give that a rest.

Cyn