pH Lower

Designed to lower the pH in aquatic systems. pH levels less than seven are considered acidic, while those with a pH greater than seven are considered basic (alkaline). pH 7 is considered neutral water.

pH Increase

Designed to increase the pH in aquatic systems. pH levels less than seven are considered acidic, while those with a pH greater than seven are considered basic (alkaline). pH 7 is considered neutral water.

Depending on the types of fish and plants that you keep in ponds or aquariums, certain environmental parameters can be very important to the animal or plant health. For example, the degree of salinity (salt content), water temperature, amount of light, and oxygen content are all important parameters. Another important parameter is pH, which is defined as follows: 

The pond or aquarium water may be considered acidic, neutral, or basic. In general terms, acidic means that the pH is below 7.0, neutral means that the pH is close to 7.0, and basic means that the pH is greater than 7.0. The pH scale ranges from 1 (extremely acidic) to 14 (extremely basic). Most ponds or aquariums have desired pH between 6.0 to 8.5.

There are several factors that contribute to difficulties in controlling pH. When just starting a pond or tank, the source water (tap water or well water) may be at a pH that is significantly different than optimal. Also, most ponds and aquariums are closed systems. That means that what happens in the system stays within the system. And because of this, the pH may begin to drift away from healthy levels as time goes on.

Whether one is starting a new system or maintaining the pH in an existing system, the easiest, safest way to control pH is with 'pH Higher' or 'pH Lower' from Ultra Clear.

Note: Every pond or aquarium is unique with respect to the species of animals and plants that reside within. Please consult your aquatic specialist (store owner, veterinarian, etc) to determine the pH that is best for your system.

What is the Difference Between 'pH Higher' and 'pH Lower'?

pH is a measure of the acidity of basicity of a pond. The value for pH can range from 1 to 14. Neutral pH is 7.0, acidic pH is below 7.0, and basic pH is above 7.0. Various fish and plants have optimum or required pH values. Therefore, the pond pH should be maintained at a given pH in order to keep your particular fish and plants healthy.

In order to raise the pH of a system, use UltraClear pH Higher. To lower the pH of a system, use UltraClear pH Lower. Both pH Higher and pH Lower are available in quart bottles and gallons.

There are three indicators of product performance. They are:

• Strength
• Persistence
• Safety

By strength, we refer to the change in pH that you can achieve by adding a given amount of product to a given amount of water. For example, assume that one adds 5 ounces of product to a 1000-gallon pond. A strong product might raise or lower the pH of the pond by 0.1 to 0.2 units. A weaker product would change the pH less than this.

Persistence refers to the tendency of the pH to stay the same after it is changed through addition of pH Higher or pH Lower. If persistence is poor, you may have to reapply the product more frequently. If persistence is good, the pH will be more stable, which is healthier for your aquatic system.

When one handles the pH products, safety can be a concern. Some pH products have severe warning labels because they are composed of very dangerous acids and bases.

A quality product will have a good combination of strength, persistence, and safety. This is where Ultra Clear pH products are truly superior. They are virtually as strong as anything on the market. That means that the cost of maintaining your pH will be quite low with Ultra Clear. Ultra Clear products also contain buffers. The role of buffers is to increase the persistence of the product. Because Ultra Clear contains buffers, the pH is more stable than with other products, meaning that the work required using the product and the cost of doing so are both reduced. Finally, unlike other products that are extremely dangerous, Ultra Clear is strong yet safer than the competition. While care must still be used when using the product, the risk of burns or other injury is vastly reduced with Ultra Clear.

The unique blend of strength, persistence, and safety make Ultra Clear pH products your best choice.

Dosage Considerations

For both pH Higher and pH Lower, the recommended dose rate is 5 ounces per 1000 gallons. Whenever adding these products to a pond, you should first dilute the recommended dose into a gallon or more of water. Then spread the dose around the pond, and attempt to distribute it as evenly as possible.

After initial product application, allow 8 to 24 hours to pass, and then re-test the pH. If it is at the desired level, no further addition is needed. If the pH is higher or lower than desired, add product again. In most cases, when a second or third dose proves necessary, use a reduced dose for the follow up application. That means that for the first dose, use 5 ounces per 1000 gallons. And for second or third doses, use 2 or 3 ounces per 1000 gallons. This routine will help avoid over or under-shooting the target pH.

Note: We recommend that you not change the pH by any more than about 0.2 units in any single dose. A change in pH can be a shock to fish. They will tolerate small pH changes (0.2 units or less), but may suffer stress if the changes are more rapid. This means that if your pH is significantly different than your target pH, it may take several days and repeated doses to reach the target pH. Remember, each pond is unique with its specific mix of animals and plants. Always consult your aquatic specialist (store owner, veterinarian, etc.) for specific recommendations as to the best pH for your system.