Peat Moss experiment

[mr86mister]

so after reading about fishy's problem with the pH dropping way too low when she added peat moss i decided to try to add a certain amount and see how it affects the pH over time, here is the experiment

My original pH at 2:15pm on Monday was-8.1

I added a golf ball size chunk of peat moss at 2:15 to a 10 gallon tank

Every hour i took the pH test:
3:15pm-pH of 7.8
4:15-pH of 7.6
5:15-pH of 7.4

Then i checked it at midnight and got a pH of 7.4
Then today at 1:15 and it was still at 7.4

My conclusion to the experiment is, a golf ball sized chunk of peat moss added to a 10 gallon aquarium and under my tanks conditions drops about .7 over a period of 3 hours and remains there.

I will continue to monitor my levels for the next few days to see any changes

 

[gfink]

What are your kH and GH measurements?
kH will buffer the effect of the peat moss, so people's results will vary.

 

[mr86mister]

i actually dont have any tests for the KH and GH

i know it will vary in every persons tank, i was just giving out an idea of what it could possibly do

that was my next test kits to buy was for the KH and GH

 

[greenmaji]

I would be intrested in finding out if the peat will consume KH or GH.. PH is kindof a side note IMO. Would like to see thouse results

 

[mr86mister]

alright greenmaji i will have to go out tomorrow and get those test kits and i will test my tap water and my aquarium water

do you think that would work to see if it is consumed?

 

[greenmaji]

it should.. but to be honest with you I think it would take long term use for the acids to actually consume KH or GH so long term testing might be in order.. HTH

 

[mattrox]

Acids do not consume GH. But the more acid you add the more the KH will drop. The KH should drop faster than the pH though...... remember titration curves?