The pH level in my aquarium stays low for a few days and then goes up again. How do I get it to stay low?
by 
April Shaffer
ANSWERS: 3
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you need to properly buffer your water in order to keep it at a steady pH level. try proper pH buffering solutions/powders at fish stores. a good buffer will set the pH at your desired level and regulate the alkalinity or buffering capacity(ability of the water to absorb/neutralize added acid without major changes to pH)
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Don't screw with or worry about your pH level in your tank unless you're keeping some kind of tropicals that absolutely can't stand a higher pH. In the long run you're better off acclimating your fish to the pH of your tap water than trying to screw around with a ton of chemical buffering methods. That said your pH should be falling over time due to nitric acid buildup (nitrates) in the tank. You may want to make sure you don't have any calcium rocks in the tank that are messing with the pH. If you really need to get the pH nice and acidic (for some speciality fish) peat moss will always do the trick... sometimes too well.
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Hello; Water has minerals in it that disolve ( buffer ) when you add PH-Down. This takes a couple of days to do so. Also, some gravel that is not coated with plastic ( sealer ), sedentary rocks, coral, and shells will will buffer also. Fill a 5-gallon pail or water bottle and add PH-Down -- test it --- each day test the water and add a measured amount of PH_Down -- continue until the desired PH is obtained and no more buffering (change in PH) is noted for two days. Now, when you add the same amount of water again add the amount of Ph-Down you used before and let the water sit two days before adding to your tank. This sitting time also releases most of the clorine in the tap water. OFM
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