I have been trying to control algae in my aquarium so I have tried a few times to add some Ottos, but only two of five have survived. I read that they prefer a lower PH so I have been trying to get my PH down to 7.5 or so but my tank just keeps coming back to 8.2 or higher.
I have used mostly softened water for years now but recently tried to use a lot of distilled water from the store to lower the TDS levels. I also just assembled a new RO system which after 5 stages the TDS is like 9 or 10 which seems fantastic. The problem is I just tested it and it's PH was 8.2.
The sixth stage is an Alkaline filter for taste and that was like 8.8 so I won't be using that water.
I have read that plants raise PH during the day and lower it overnight, and I have observed that but my PH still creeps up during the week after a water change. I have also read that lowering the TDS removes 'buffers' that help stabilize the PH.
My problem is I fear if I go with the RO water my PH is going to be all over the place and might spike up high like it did over my recent two week vacation. I had two sick fish when I got back which died within a day or two. The PH had spiked up to like 8.6 or higher, this was with mostly distilled water with a TDS in the 30's if I recall correctly.
One more item, I have some Fluval peat granules in my filter but they don't seem to be lowering the PH all that much.
I have used mostly softened water for years now but recently tried to use a lot of distilled water from the store to lower the TDS levels. I also just assembled a new RO system which after 5 stages the TDS is like 9 or 10 which seems fantastic. The problem is I just tested it and it's PH was 8.2.
The sixth stage is an Alkaline filter for taste and that was like 8.8 so I won't be using that water.
I have read that plants raise PH during the day and lower it overnight, and I have observed that but my PH still creeps up during the week after a water change. I have also read that lowering the TDS removes 'buffers' that help stabilize the PH.
My problem is I fear if I go with the RO water my PH is going to be all over the place and might spike up high like it did over my recent two week vacation. I had two sick fish when I got back which died within a day or two. The PH had spiked up to like 8.6 or higher, this was with mostly distilled water with a TDS in the 30's if I recall correctly.
One more item, I have some Fluval peat granules in my filter but they don't seem to be lowering the PH all that much.