How to mimic the natural environnement of the Tetras and GBR?

[Coozle]

I have RummyNose, Cardinal, Neon and Black Neon tetras already in my 32Gal tank. Im getting the GBR's soon. But before I want to make the aquarium look more like their real life environnement. What do I have to add to make it look like so? I already have low light live plants.

 

[allaboutfish]

make it look like the amazon. lots of plants and driftwood here's a link for a really good one

 

[Coozle]

But I'm afraid the driftwood will affect my pH downwards and then after a while my pH will go back up.

 

[Fishkeeper26]

Neon tetras are from the amazon, hope this helps...
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquarium/amazon.php

 

[allaboutfish]

the way to stop this is boil the driftwood for a couple weeks to get the tannins out. the ph would decrese slowly and not by too much, and when it rose again it'd be a slow rise.

 

[jcolon]

But I'm afraid the driftwood will affect my pH downwards and then after a while my pH will go back up.

In reality, the amount that DW affects pH is pretty slight ... but you can boil / submerge DW in water for a few days to allow the Tannins to leach out. However some DW will still leach out some Tannins up to a month after it's been submerged. Still the effects on pH by then is small.

 

[Coozle]

I see, so when it decreases and rises slowly, it won't affect nor my rams and nor my tetras?

 

[Revenantwing]

ive added DW to my tank and my PH never changed... Must've been a slight change.

 

[James_in_MN]

When I was cycling my 10g tank, I had tannins leach from the driftwood I added to it, and it only softened the water a bit (lowered the KH) but didn't affect the pH. I guess it couldn't work the buffers low enough to lower the pH. Now, with weekly water changes, the tannins are never noticeable (if they're still leaching out of the DW).