PH 🤷🏼‍♂️

[DAWGMAN]

Finally my tank is cycled 🤞🏻 Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate all good. 
My goal is to house neo caradina shrimp, some nano fish, snails, and plants.

Planning everything around 7 ph that’s what most species that I want requires. For pleco , shrimp dwarf Cory’s and such that they do best with drift wood, Almond leaves and or Alder cones. All of which lower ph. So my ph was running right at 7 . I’ve had the wood in since the beginning and only have one Alder cone in the 40 gallon. My ph is running 6.5 to 6.8. Is there anything I should do? Will it level out?  I’m trying not to play ph tug of war(add coral so I can add an Alder cone add baking soda so I can add an Almond leaf🤷🏼‍♂️) Thanks 

[813aquatics]

If your ph is stable at 6.5-6.8 I wouldn’t do a thing if your goal is to be near neutral. Your shrimp may even thank you for it. You’ll probably cause more stress chasing a ph that your tank won’t stabilize at. If you are desperate to buffer/raise ph you can try adding a quantity of crushed coral to your filter.

[AndreaW]

I also think a stable pH is more important than chasing a pH unless you need a very specific pH. A fluctuating pH is very stressful and harmful to fish. 

However, if you are going to keep snails, 7.0 is much more preferable so you don't damage their shell with acidic water. I think adding crushed coral might be a good option as it is a gradual and more long term change.

[Patrick_G]

I struggle with Mystery snails because if my soft, acidic water. I've added crushed coral on mesh filter bags. Depending on the tank configuration it's either in the hang on back filter or hidden behind some hardscape.