armadillo

Hi everyone. Has anybody tried peat in the filter to lower pH? Am considering it.

Tom

I haven't had any with it, but from what I have heard, it is the best natural way to lower it. Just make sure you don't get any peat that has any chemicals on/in it. Just plain old clean peat.
Tom

armadillo

Mmmmh. Thanks, Tom. I think high pH may be what's making my oto sick.

Tom

What is your pH at right now? They like it between 6.0-7.0.
Tom

armadillo

Well that's it. It's 8.0 out of the tap...

Luniyn

Using peat works well, but just note that it will color your water and make it look sort of like a light tea. Remember fish can get used to a high pH level. I've heard of people successfully keeping Discus at a pH of 8.0 where they normally prefer as close to 6.0 as possible. And a constant pH is always better then one that changes. The use of peat would have to be slowly introduced in order not to outright shock your oto due to too fast of a dip in the pH.

armadillo

Mmmmm. Food for thought, food for thought. I was hoping that peat was this miracle, organic, slow-acting and stabilising solution. Am wondering about our puffers/kuhlis.

sirdarksol

I can't find the exact page right now, but I've got a book that discusses messing with pH. In some cases, such as Africans Cichlids when you've got 5.5 tap water, it's necessary. It might actually be necessary with your otos.
The thing you've got to remember is that every single water change will need to be filtered through a peat pillow (or treated in some way with peat) in order to keep the pH stable.
What you could do to slowly adjust your fish would be to begin by only treating water during water changes, and doing a large number of small changes over a couple of weeks. Maybe 10% every other day (or better, 5% every day, if you can commit to that) until the water gets pretty close to the pH of the treated water.

armadillo

Mmmmm. Am really wary of starting with pH messing. Your warning about the increased labour of water changes is noted. It may demotivate me from doing them as often as they need doing. I"ll definitely keep mulling this one over. I've bought the peat now.

Thanks so much for the new elements!

sirdarksol

It is a tough decision. I've got really basic water, too. I've found that plants have helped a bit. Decomposing plant matter makes the water a bit more acidic (and it's a slower process). It doesn't do a lot, though.

armadillo

Oh I didnt' know that.

I've heard of this one particular type of driftwood that could make water more acidic.

sirdarksol

Really, most driftwood that is sold for tanks has the potential to lower pH. I haven't really seen it happen, though, and I have driftwood in three of my tanks.

armadillo

Yeah, me neither. I'll need to ask my friend precisely what kind she was talking about. She had this specific name and perhaps that one is actully more effective?

sirdarksol

Could be. I haven't heard of it, but that doesn't mean anything.