Ph refuses to go up

Question
I have a 45 gallon tank which is 2 1/2 years old.  I have had nothing but disastrous results with it.  The pH is one problem, it refuses to go up from 6.2 no matter what Ph rising additive I put in.  Why on earth will the pH not rise to a non fish killing level?  I also have used bottled water to help the situation and that didn't work.  I have tried dozens of times to fix the issue with tank over-hauls like new gravel three times!  Arghhh!  I have never had so much trouble with a tank.  Please help my poor fish and I.

Answer
Hi Walter;

If the tap water in your house goes through a water softener, try to bypass it. You can also add shells (without small openings for your fish to get stuck in), smooth coral, limestone, marble, etc. to help the pH rise slowly and naturally. They add alkalizing minerals to the water.

Also aerate the water more. I have found that adding an airpump and airstone to my lower pH tanks keeps them more stable and also aids in water clarity.

If your tank has bogwood or driftwood, remove it. They soften the water and cause acidity. Make your regular weekly 25% water change and over time the pH should increase. You want it to change very slowly so the fish aren't stressed.

A pH of 6.2 really isn't bad, but if it has been going below 6.0 it can indeed cause problems. Using pH altering chemicals actually stresses the fish more than letting them get used to the pH they already have. Those products cause a rollercoaster effect of ups and downs that really can be deadly. A "stable" pH is much more important than a certain reading.

Out of curiosity, what is the pH in the water as it comes out of the tap? Do you know the hardness levels, KH and GH? The fish store can do them for you if you don't have the kits.

Has the tank been overcrowded? Fish overfed?
What kinds of fish do you usually keep?
How many?
How long do they usually live after you add them to the tank?
Do they get sick and die from the low pH?
What kinds of symptoms do they have?
Are ammonia, nitrite and nitrite at acceptable levels?

Let me know as soon as you can, as well as any other info that you thought of that could help us...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins