Setting up a hospital tank- PH advice needed

Need some advice. I'm setting up a hospital tank, bare bottom. My tap water has a PH of 7.8 and even though I use tap water for water changes the ph in all my tanks are 7.4, which is most likely due to the fact that all of my tanks are heavily planted w/ lots of driftwood. The hospital tank will be sans decoration. What do I need to use as my water source for this hospital tank, seeing that I need to maintain a ph of 7.4?? I can't take a sick fish from a ph of 7.4 and deposit him into a ph of 7.8. Help?

For the 0.4 difference I'd use peat. Get a mesh bag pantyhose whatever and add peat to it and hang it close to the filter outlet in the QT. But started slow with the peat so it doesn't drop it further then what you want!
On something like a 10g I'd start with 1/2 cup maybe 3/4 cup, prop better half cup see how that does after 2 days and then add a lil each day till its where you want it.

If you need a RIGHT NOW ASAP solution and the QT is small get purified bottled water and mix it in till your pH is at 7.4.

Yes, I need it right now.
I'll run down and buy some purified water. Thanks Natalie!

I was kinda thinking you would after I was done typing up the peat matter lol
Yea do that add slowly & test (allow time for it all to mix up first and then test!) Shouldn't take much on a small QT to drop it by .4.

Worst case (and my last idea on this matter) get water outta your big tank and dump it in there to lower it; not idea but knowing that you do frequent water changes its not fully waste water and it would be better then re-housing the fish in a pH drop.

Good luck with the sick fish!!!

Duh, as I whack myself across the forehead. I just did a water change not even two days ago so that water will work just fine. Thanks! Still going to pick up some peat so I'm prepared...

pH Down is a product that my LFS carries; it lowers the pH a bit.

Where I live, the tap water has a pH of about 6.2! Great for Discus and softwater tanks.

I'm not a fan of using chemicals and using PH down can cause wide swings in PH, which are deadly, if you're a fish! You have 6.2 straight out of the tap?? LUCKY YOU! When are you setting up a Discus tank??

I heard there was forehead whacking going on. Need help? Looks like it's under control. Carry on

The meidcation might lower the pH anyways depending on what you're using.

I'm using metronidazole. I've been testing the water twice daily (am & pm) and so far no ph changes.