natural pH lowered by driftwood

[JPKeenan]

I am pretty much amazed in the difference it has made. I acquired some driftwood and anchored a new java fern to it (a piece of each in both tanks). My pH was hovering around 7.6-7.8 in both tanks... It is high coming out of the tap anyway.

I placed the wood in when I was doing about a 40% PWC, makes it easier to stick my little Umpa Loompa arms to the bottom of the tank. 3 or 4 days my pH seems to have leveled out about 7.2 in both tanks. Will be keeping an eye on things cause I don't want it to bottom out and send teh fish into pH Shock.

[cwt]

new driftwood? Did you soak it first? Some people here go as far as boiling it first. Keep an eye on that ph... it *will* keep lowering it, I know mine does.

[JPKeenan]

got the suggestion to run it through the dishwasher (without soap) on the theory that the hot water would kill anything in it.

I have some more soaking that has also been through the dish washer as well.