driftwood as pH buffer - how soon to see change?

[norcalg]

Hello,
I am just getting started and currently fish-less cycling a 50 (55?) gallon tank. We have well water and the pH is consistently 8.0 - 8.2. I'd be more comfortable with that consistency at a lower point so have added two 12" pieces of driftwood to the tank for decorative purposes as well as trying to buffer the pH. How soon should I expect to see the results? Is there a point where the pH will not drop anymore and that will be my new level? Is there anyway to estimate that instead of just testing? I don't want to add fish at the end of my cycle if the pH is going to fluctuate.

Also, I have a collection of rocks currently in a bucket of well water and the pH has dropped in that bucket - from 8.0 to 7.4. Can I assume that one of the rocks in there is doing a lovely job of pH buffering and add it to the tank? Or can I over-buffer with rocks and driftwood?

Any info appreciated -
Thank you,
~g

 

[rich311k]

Driftwood will not have that much of an effect. I do not know of any rocks that will lower PH. Have you tested the tap after sitting out for 24 hours? What is the KH and GH of your water?

 

[norcalg]

Driftwood will not have that much of an effect. I do not know of any rocks that will lower PH. Have you tested the tap after sitting out for 24 hours? What is the KH and GH of your water?

I did test the water after 24 hours and it was pH 8.0-8.2. I don't know the KH and GH yet. Guess those should be the next tests, huh? Our tap water runs through a softener so I bypass it. The rock could be anything. It was salvaged from a remodeled geology lab.

Thanks,
~g