Cub Fan

Hello all! Another newbie to the forum world...I started a 35 gallon tank about 2 months ago. I cycled it using the fishless method. Seemed to work well. I have since added two columbian tetras whom appear in good shape.

I want to continue to add south or central american fish to the tank but most fish in that category need neutral or slightly acidic water. I added driftwood to help lower the 8.0 ph.. The most puzzling part is that the water hardness is about a 5 and yet there has not been any change in ph. What could be buffering the ph? Any help would be huge!

pepetj

Why not trying filtering with peat?
I'm actually considering doing that -not an expert on this subject, just studying that option, for my now in fishless-cycling 145gal (Home of Tiguer Oscars -two,- and one Green Severum). My source water is mixed (from the city and a well) and pH is quite elevated, at 7.6 to 7.8 range.
What test are you using for GH and KH?

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Cub Fan

I was pondering if peat would help much at all. How much can peat actually drop the ph? My KH is 89.5 ppm (5 dKH). That is why it seams odd to me that the ph will not drop. Any thoughts?

Shawnie

Im curious as to what GH and KH are?

Cub Fan

My GH is 9 dGH and KH is 5 dKH. Does that make any sense? I am using API test kits.

Shawnie

I dont have a clue what they are ..ive never tested for either nor do I keep an eye on my ph...but the ammonia, nitrites, n nitrates are always watched...but thats just me

pepetj

Shawnie: I really thought you were kidding us. GH is the "general hardness" (sum of all dissolved minerals in the water, including carbonates; distilled water has GH of zero; soft water up to 5dH... etc)

KH is another related measure, that focuses (supossedly) on "carbonate hardness" which acts as a buffer to keep pH stable (absence or very low levels make pH likely unstable).

Cub Fan: Yes it makes all sense to me. Those are quite close to my values (tested with Tetra Laborett liquid reagents).
My Readings at day 7 (today) of fishless cycle with Ammonia solution (jump-started with one seeded filter, and seeded substrate last Saturday evening):
pH range is 7.6 to 7.8 (midnite-noon)
Temp range 26 to 28C (midnite-noon)
Ammonia from 3ppm to 0ppm in 12hrs or less (I'm adding halfX drops: 12.5ml of ammonia solution)
Nitrites at spike (off charts)
Nitrates at <10ppm, (but slightly >0)
GH 10dH
KH 5dH

As long as KH remains at or above 3dH, the pH attained from filtering with peat should be stable.

As for how much it will drop: It depends, filtering through peat could drastically drop pH to values around 4.5. As I wrote you, I am researching it myself as we speak.
So far this is what I intend to do: (This is without fish in the tank)
Once the cycle is done, Almost 100% water change. At this point I intend to place Fluval Peat Fiber inside the HOBs (I have three AquaClear 110). I will add/remove as necessary, looking for KH at 3dH (although some sources consider KH at 2dH safe).
Another method is filtering a lot of treated tap water in a separate bucket, drop the pH to 4.5 and perform partial water replacents until safe values are obtained.
To prevent tanins from staining the water, Activated Charcoal must be present and working (replacing every 2 to 3 weeks?); if you want blackwater biotipe, remove the Activated Charcoal.

Hope this works. Keep us posted!

Pepe
Santo Domingo