FishProfiles.com Message Forums

generaly my city water is 6.5-6.8ph and very soft, so my tanks are used to it.but rarely test the tap water so was testing tank water today after i did a large water change two days ago and my tank water is 5.5 !!!!!! so what the hell!!!! test my tap water and sure enough it's 5.5 rrrrrggghhh so here's my question
sea shells , lime stone or crushed coral ?? i've never used either one of them & don't like the swings ph powder buffers do , knowing that my problem is really my GH/KH
so whats the best ? (wanting to slooooooowwly rise my GH/KH ), how much to use per gal to start with and then add how much, how often to rise my GH/KH up to higher points but still keeping it soft water & slightly acidic


90g- anguilla rostrata,6 silver dollars,2 pictus catfish 60 g- anguilla rostrata 29g-4 blk skirt&4 serpia tetras, 6 harliquin resbora, 3kuhli loach 20g- 2 mountian minnows, 2 zebra danio& dojo loach , a corn snake and 2 monster dogs

I haven't done a lot with this, although I had to when I first got into shellies.

I didn't want to use those pH products either. I've used a combination of shells, crushed coral, and sand depending on the tank.

What type of tank is it as far as stock? Where do you want the pH at?



~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Hi,
All of those are carbonates and if you use them as a
substrate will gradually raise your waters' pH into the
8.0 and above area. Which one you choose should depend
upon what your goal is. If you have African Rift fish,
then I would use crushed limestone or crushed dolomite.
Those contain not only Ca but also Mg and other minerals
that are necessary for the general health of the fish and
plants. If you use crushed coral or oyster shells, they
are primarily simply CaCO3 or calcium carbonate.

You could make your substrate one of them, and then
regulate your pH by water changes with a lower pH water
to keep it at whatever level you choose. However, that
would mean religious water changes at a constant interval.
Or, you could put some of that into the toe of a panty
hose, tie it off so that it stays within the toe, and
place that in the output of your filter so the water flows
through it and into the tank. That would slowly raise your
pH and GH and as long as you stick with 10-20% water
changes the dips and peaks would not be that great.
Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

baking soda will raise your pH and keep it constant.
How much you will need varies, but I found that I only needed a small amount. To raise the level to something a bit nicer for the fish, add quater of a teaspoon daily until you get the pH you desire. Then add the soda direct to the bucket as you fill for water changes. You will need to do a test bucket to work out how much baking soda to add.
If you have hard water fish then I suggest as above to have crushed coral/shells as part of your substrate or in the filter permanently

Good luck.

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

90G=6 silver dollars, 2 are 6 yrs old &4 are 4yrs!,2 4 yrs pictus catfish &4yrsWhodini, american freshwater Eel (natural river pebble 4 substrate)
60gal=4yrswhodini's twin eel Zippy, gimpy GF(white Quatz gravel)
45 octagon =Kaily a 18 yrs old calico goldfish(3mm gavel)
20gal planted w/ 1yrs 2zebra danio's ,3 white cload minnows& a (just resent addition)weather loach (natural river pea&sand gravel)
15gal lightly planted= 1+yrs4 black skirt tetra,4 serpia tetra's,2 tiny snails &kuhli loach (flora base substrate)

is what i have & i want to acheive soft 6.0-6.5 and be able to keep it there but basically my water is sooo soft if i use sodium bicarbanate i can get my desired ph too fast and then within a couple days its back down 5.6-5.8 being on the north west coast we just went a month of record days of straight rain and my water comes from the capalano river i'm sure my fish can be able to handle the ph slight swing as mostof my fish i've had years,and are used to the water here , but mainly i'm consurned about my GH/KH
should i just add a small amount crushed coral/limestone mix in a stocking to my filters?


90g- anguilla rostrata,6 silver dollars,2 pictus catfish 60 g- anguilla rostrata 29g-4 blk skirt&4 serpia tetras, 6 harliquin resbora, 3kuhli loach 20g- 2 mountian minnows, 2 zebra danio& dojo loach , a corn snake and 2 monster dogs

or very small controled amounts of sea salt?

90g- anguilla rostrata,6 silver dollars,2 pictus catfish 60 g- anguilla rostrata 29g-4 blk skirt&4 serpia tetras, 6 harliquin resbora, 3kuhli loach 20g- 2 mountian minnows, 2 zebra danio& dojo loach , a corn snake and 2 monster dogs