Peat Moss / Almond Leaves Raising Ph?

Hello all,

In my tank I have switched over to remineralised RO water in order to create some soft water conditions which had been giving me a PH of about 7 (7.5 absolute tops).

I decided I wanted to lower this a bit more to around 6.5 so I did some research and started using peat moss and Indian almond leaves in the filter to help out... since doing that, the PH has risen to a solid 7.6 with no signs of coming down. Should I just give up and remove them at this point?

Could I try using a 50/50 mix of pure RO and Remineralised RO?

Is there anything else that could be affecting the water? I used some Seachem root tabs as fertilisers, although on the label that mentioned that it could have a softening affect like the peat does.

Maybe I should just give up on the PH and accept that the tap water in my area is so hard that even once it has been through an RO filter it's still not neutral. :/

Any suggestions or advice is welcome!
Andy

 

Hello
How many stages RO do you have .. but using a 50/50 mix of pure should work ..you might need to add additional and Indian like you use

 

Hello
How many stages RO do you have .. but using a 50/50 mix of pure should work ..you might need to add additional and Indian like you use

It's bought from my local fish store until I can get my own installed so I have absolutely no idea. The other thing I am trying to figure out is how to get clear water but with the benefit of the peat moss and almond leaves.

From what I can tell I should be able to run carbon and Purigen to clean the water yet some people seem to suggest the water has to be stained for it to work.

I'm wondering if there is a mineral formula I can use specifically for soft water?

 

It's bought from my local fish store until I can get my own installed so I have absolutely no idea. The other thing I am trying to figure out is how to get clear water but with the benefit of the peat moss and almond leaves.

From what I can tell I should be able to run carbon and Purigen to clean the water yet some people seem to suggest the water has to be stained for it to work.

I'm wondering if there is a mineral formula I can use specifically for soft water?

There is formula called Equilibrium I use that restores and maintains minerals balance GH. .If you purchase water from LPS I already know any stores will not add anything or any type minerals back in water. RO water removes up to 95% minerals and only 5%tds will be there after filtration so water is simply clean and it should be on you to test water and make necessary adjustments..

 

There is formula called Equilibrium I use that restores and maintains minerals balance GH. .If you purchase water from LPS I already know any stores will not add anything or any type minerals back in water. RO water removes up to 95% minerals and only 5%tds will be there after filtration so water is simply clean and it should be on you to test water and make necessary adjustments..

The store remineralises it for you for a small charge, which is what I have them doing.

For the plants I have started using fertiliser, so I am wondering if I can switch to pure RO... but will that harm the fish?

 

The store remineralises it for you for a small charge, which is what I have them doing.

For the plants I have started using fertiliser, so I am wondering if I can switch to pure RO... but will that harm the fish?

Using pure RO water without re-mineralises be ok. however if you have natural resources in tank such driftwood lime rocks and other ..So adding pure RO water in your tank will over couple days will become naturally re-balance on there own from resources in your tank.. Fertilizer for plants should be use regardless no matter if you use RO or tap water.. You have to be more specific about your tank I have 18 tanks total and in some case I use plain RO water without re-mineralises and some I boost and add minerals ...So answer that RO water will not hurt you fish unless you use affiliate items in tank that don't provide necessary minerals..

 

Just to put this out there, it is peat (not peat moss) that is added to aquariums to lower ph. Here is fluval's product for example Fluval Peat Granules | 500 g. I wouldn't use the moss as it could rot and cause problems in the aquarium.

 

If the store remineralizes the water, it might be interesting to what degree the remineralize.
If your KH is 4 or higher, your pH might not go down.

 

If the store remineralizes the water, it might be interesting to what degree the remineralize.
If your KH is 4 or higher, your pH might not go down.

But is cool they do that place I leave we have 25 LPS none of them will re-mineralizes water

 

Think you mean lowering Ph?

 

Just to put this out there, it is peat (not peat moss) that is added to aquariums to lower ph. Here is fluval's product for example Fluval Peat Granules | 500 g. I wouldn't use the moss as it could rot and cause problems in the aquarium.

I thought it was one in the same thing. But it's this stuff: - As per my post, it doesn't seem to have done anything other than make the water dark.

Think you mean lowering Ph?

No, I mean raising the PH - the PH went up after I had started using them, instead of going down. That was my original query.

 

Ahhhh okay, misread / misunderstood.

No, I mean raising the PH - the PH went up after I had started using them, instead of going down. That was my original query.

 

Ahhhh okay, misread / misunderstood.

I think maybe I'm just going to give up on trying to adjust PH. I had the same in my saltwater tank a few years back where I was constantly trying to change the PH so it was right for the fish... in the end I gave up and came to the conclusion that, as it didn't seem to affect the fish in any way, I may as well just stop trying.

I think I'm heading that way with this tank too. I'd never tried to chase the PH in any of my old tanks, and I never had any problems as a result. This time I thought I'd give it a go and it only seems to be making matters worse... go figure.

 

I think maybe I'm just going to give up on trying to adjust PH. I had the same in my saltwater tank a few years back where I was constantly trying to change the PH so it was right for the fish... in the end I gave up and came to the conclusion that, as it didn't seem to affect the fish in any way, I may as well just stop trying.

I think I'm heading that way with this tank too. I'd never tried to chase the PH in any of my old tanks, and I never had any problems as a result. This time I thought I'd give it a go and it only seems to be making matters worse... go figure.

Add Driftwood will soften the water and lower the pH. I have at least 4-6 types driftwood in every tank and make balance with lime rocks or crushed corals, on this picture you see I used in front of tank CaribSea design for cichlid this substrate help to increase PH and adding driftwood help to lower the PH since I have been use CO2 since first day that also pushing ph down I have added only 2 type driftwood my PH is 7.4-7.6. .that's why I was asking earlier what else you have in your tank. Also keep in mind correct level Alkalinity will help keep PH balance and stable.

IMG_20180614_185701306

• Zigi Zig
• Jul 8, 2018

 

I thought it was one in the same thing. But it's this stuff: - As per my post, it doesn't seem to have done anything other than make the water dark.

Yes, that's peat. Peat moss (also called spagnum moss) is a plant.

 

Add Driftwood will soften the water and lower the pH. I have at least 4-6 types driftwood in every tank and make balance with lime rocks or crushed corals, on this picture you see I used in front of tank CaribSea design for cichlid this substrate help to increase PH and adding driftwood help to lower the PH since I have been use CO2 since first day that also pushing ph down I have added only 2 type driftwood my PH is 7.4-7.6. .that's why I was asking earlier what else you have in your tank. Also keep in mind correct level Alkalinity will help keep PH balance and stable.

IMG_20180614_185701306

• Zigi Zig
• Jul 8, 2018

I've got some bog wood in the tank already.

Like I said: I think I'm just going to give up chasing the PH. It doesn't really seem to affect the fish and as what I am doing only seems to be making matters worse, I may just call it a day. I'm going to experiment with the almond leaves a little longer... but the peat just makes the tank look dirty.

I'm a little bit confused by this sentence: "Also keep in mind correct level will help keep PH balance and stable."

Alkalinity and Acidity are opposite ends of the scale; Alkalinity (high PH) generally represents hard water, and acidic water being softer (low PH). So if I am lowering my PH, I am reducing the alkalinity to make it (slightly) more acidic...?

 

I've got some bog wood in the tank already.

Like I said: I think I'm just going to give up chasing the PH. It doesn't really seem to affect the fish and as what I am doing only seems to be making matters worse, I may just call it a day. I'm going to experiment with the almond leaves a little longer... but the peat just makes the tank look dirty.

I'm a little bit confused by this sentence: "Also keep in mind correct level will help keep PH balance and stable."

Alkalinity and Acidity are opposite ends of the scale; Alkalinity (high PH) generally represents hard water, and acidic water being softer (low PH). So if I am lowering my PH, I am reducing the alkalinity to make it (slightly) more acidic...?

I wanted to ask you actually why you trying to lowering PH in first place.. 7 -7.5 absolute perfect

 

I wanted to ask you actually why you trying to lowering PH in first place.. 7 -7.5 absolute perfect

The fish I have prefer a PH of around 6 - 6.5.