ADW76
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hey friends, so here's my first dilemma, or is it a dilemma at all?? The scenario is this:
So my tap water is considered hard GH and is consistently above a pH of 8 out of the tap.. (8.2 - 8.4 to be precise). I've been doing some research and trying to mess with GH and pH seems like a never-ending pain in the *** that doesn't even seem to produce effective results.
I was going to try and find a source for Catappa Leaves which I've heard, putting it in my filter can get the pH down a few points, but I'm not sure it will be enough. I've also heard that peat moss is good, but a rust-colored tint to the water isn't something I want either!
My plans are to have a planted aquarium with community fish - everything I've read says 8.0 is the high end for what they will thrive in -- I'm worried as it approaches 8.5 that this will pose a real problem to my plans.
And I'm aware of RO/DI systems, and I really can't go into that kind of investment right now -- is there any other way to help control the pH and keep it in the 7's? Or is it even a problem at all and I should just run with it??
Any advice would be great. Thanks.
Andrew
So my tap water is considered hard GH and is consistently above a pH of 8 out of the tap.. (8.2 - 8.4 to be precise). I've been doing some research and trying to mess with GH and pH seems like a never-ending pain in the *** that doesn't even seem to produce effective results.
I was going to try and find a source for Catappa Leaves which I've heard, putting it in my filter can get the pH down a few points, but I'm not sure it will be enough. I've also heard that peat moss is good, but a rust-colored tint to the water isn't something I want either!
My plans are to have a planted aquarium with community fish - everything I've read says 8.0 is the high end for what they will thrive in -- I'm worried as it approaches 8.5 that this will pose a real problem to my plans.
And I'm aware of RO/DI systems, and I really can't go into that kind of investment right now -- is there any other way to help control the pH and keep it in the 7's? Or is it even a problem at all and I should just run with it??
Any advice would be great. Thanks.
Andrew