How to lower ph and hardness

gH: 13
kH: 6
pH: 7.9-8.2

I want to get my ph down to about 6.8-6.5 (I could do slightly lower). I'd like to get my gh down to something soft enough to breed apistos, so around 8? Driftwood didn't help. I was thinking fluval peat and andler cones. would this work?? Also if I used carbon with is get rid of most of the tannins but not bring up the ph?

 

I run peat in my filter, use cappa leaves, alder cones & don’t run carbon as it removes the tannins I love, I doubt running carbon would alter the ph but I might be wrong. My tank is a constant 6, changing the cappa every two weeks

 

Do you have Apistos now? They may surprise you and breed in your current conditions. It would be easy to maintain your current pH and keep it wear it’s at instead of battling to lower it.

 

It's a pain to soften, buy an RO system or buy RO water.

 

The best and most reliable way is to invest in a Reverse Osmosis system, it's the only reliable way to obtain water with little to no tds. Rain water usually has little tds and I think distilled water has low tds but that would run expensive.

Peat and Almond leaves would help with pH but I can't find a definitive answer whether they have a clear affect on tds.

 

Do you have Apistos now?

no

They may surprise you and breed in your current conditions. It would be easy to maintain your current pH and keep it wear it’s at instead of battling to lower it.

Ok, I'll try it. I will keep a pair in my display and have a separate tank to breed another pair in.

t's a pain to soften, buy an RO system or buy RO water.

he best and most reliable way is to invest in a Reverse Osmosis system, it's the only reliable way to obtain water with little to no tds. Rain water usually has little tds and I think distilled water has low tds but that would run expensive.

I can't afford an ro system and buying water gets expensive.
I haven't tested my drinking water. I'll try that first.

Peat and Almond leaves would help with pH but I can't find a definitive answer where they have a clear affect on tds.

I may try the leaves.