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Scipio
Age: 39
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 6
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Hello,
I seem to be having a hard time getting my PH down from 8.0 . I have been doing RO/DI water changes and I have been able to get my KH from 9 down to 5 and my GH 15 down to 7. But my PH seems not to budge in my 125g and my 10g. My Tigers seem fine in my 10g and I have had them for approx 3 weeks now with no deaths. As for my crs out of the 15 I got a month ago I still have 10, 3 died 2 days after shipping and 2 are MIA. But in almost a month no deaths.
Since I have lowered my GH and KH my crs have turned more white. I also have 3 bcs that have been in my 125g tank for about 3 weeks and they too are showing more white. Even 1 of my bcs is berried so I'm hopping for the best. I have no crushed coral, no lime stone in my tank that would keep my PH up so high even after the RO/DI WCs. I actually have several large to hugh pieces of drift would that should be lowering my PH cause they turn my water a light tea color. I have no clue as to why my PH is still so high.
I think I'm going to start doing 50/50 RO/DI and tap water WCs because I don't want to starve my low light plants since I don't add any fert. And I also don't want my shrimps to have bad molts with to low of a GH/KH, at least thats what I have read will happen.
By the way, my tap water is PH 8.0 and the RO/DI is PH 6.2 and pure.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance |
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szentgyo
Age: 23
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 20
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| Try to use some peat, for me it works, it decrease the PH level. |
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Ulli Bauer
Crustaforum-Team
Age: 34
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 288
Location: Weinstadt
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Hi,
do you use CO2 in your tank? According to this table ( http://www.dennerle.de/EN/HG26UG07.htm ) your CO2 content is only 2 mg/l.
More CO2 might be beneficial to your pH AND your plants.
Cheers
Ulli |
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_________________
If it ain't broken, don't repair it. |
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Scipio
Age: 39
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 6
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Hello,
I don't use CO2. I have low light plants (java moss, Java fern, 3 types of Anubias barteri and Cryptocoryne wendtii) they have been doing very well with out CO2 for 5 years. Slow growing but healthy.
As for peat moss, I'm guessing I would need alot for a 125g tank and that would turn my water in to dark tea. |
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Ulli Bauer
Crustaforum-Team
Age: 34
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 288
Location: Weinstadt
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Well, you could try with a little peat first and gradually increase the amount until your pH is right (always start with the easiest and less expensive), and if you don't like the water color you might consider switching to CO2.
As to your shrimp, they like their water a little tinted.
Please don't use stuff like pH-, chemicals in shrimp tanks are always a risk.
Cheers
Ulli |
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_________________
If it ain't broken, don't repair it. |
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waterfaller1
Age: 49
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Orlando FL
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| I don't know where you are exactly, but make sure you get organic peat...AKA Canadian Peat Moss. Most others have fertilizers and stuff you do not want. I use RO water, I am in Central FL, and my PH with peat & almond leaves is 6.8. My water is still fairly clear, it does have a tint. The upside to this as well as lowering the PH, is if you have any small fish such as rasboras..their color will intensify as the water gets tannins. |
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Ulli Bauer
Crustaforum-Team
Age: 34
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 288
Location: Weinstadt
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Hey Carole,
I forgot to mention not to take non-fertilized peat, thanks for pointing that out!
Tannins don't only intensify the animals' colors but help shrimp when molting. (Another point in favor of peat.)
Cheers
Ulli |
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_________________
If it ain't broken, don't repair it. |
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Scipio
Age: 39
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 6
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Thanks everyone,
I will try peat moss out. I'm going to add a second canister filter in 2 weeks to my 125g and just dedicate peat moss in the media baskets. I think I will also buy some almond leaves.
Should I remove the carbon from my main canister or will it be fine and not counter act the peat moss? |
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Ulli Bauer
Crustaforum-Team
Age: 34
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 288
Location: Weinstadt
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I would take the carbon out anyway. Most people I know only use it if they want to remove e.g. medicine from the water.
If you want to keep it (I don't know about your water), make sure that you change it every four weeks or so. Carbon will absorb noxious chemicals, but, when it's exhausted, it will give them off again, thus slowly poisoning the tank water.
Have you seen our peat cannon article?
Cheers
Ulli |
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_________________
If it ain't broken, don't repair it. |
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waterfaller1
Age: 49
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Orlando FL
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| If you are running carbon, you are also taking valuable needed ferts away from the plants. |
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_________________
Excess on occasion is exhilirating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
~W. Somerset Maugham |
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Scipio
Age: 39
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 6
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Carbon is out now. Thank you everyone  |
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