Water hardness and ph very high

Hello. Sorry if I put this under the wrong topic. I was wondering if there is a way to lower the water hardness and ph levels in my freshwater aquarium. I don't want to add anymore chemicals because it's only a 10 gallon tank and I think it'll be too dangerous. Thanks in advanced!

 

Using peat moss is a common way to lower the aquarium’s pH. Simply put the peat moss into a mesh bag and add it to the filter. Peat moss will gradually lower the pH. With peat moss, it is likely however that your water will temporarily discolor. It should clear up over time and you can also use activated carbon to help it along.
Other methods of lowering the pH include:

• Increase aeration of the aquarium
• Driftwood will soften the water and lower the pH
• Increase CO2 levels (planted aquariums)

 

Using peat moss is a common way to lower the aquarium’s pH. Simply put the peat moss into a mesh bag and add it to the filter. Peat moss will gradually lower the pH. With peat moss, it is likely however that your water will temporarily discolor. It should clear up over time and you can also use activated carbon to help it along.
Other methods of lowering the pH include:

• Increase aeration of the aquarium
• Driftwood will soften the water and lower the pH
• Increase CO2 levels (planted aquariums)

Well I do have a couple of lucky bamboo plants hanging from one corner. Could this be a problem?
I already have a carbon sponge filter and an airpump. Where can I get peat moss and what's a mesh bag? (sorry if the question seems dumb haha)

 

Mesh bag: also I hear lucky bamboo isn't the best for a fish tank

 

Ok thank you so much! I'll make sure to remove the bamboo and get some peat moss and some driftwood just in case. will this be the same for the water hardness?

 

Unfortunately no it doesn't end there xD
To soften hard water, you need to take the mineral out with a natural "water softener" such as . Another option is to use demineralized water for your fish tank.

 

Unfortunately no it doesn't end there xD
To soften hard water, you need to take the mineral out with a natural "water softener" such as . Another option is to use demineralized water for your fish tank.

How do you deal mineralize the tank ?

 

I'm not sure for that lolz

 

Hi, I think we need to know your hardness levels first and also your ph.

Will you test your tap and tank for ph? Also for Gh and KH (general hardness and carbonate hardness) and post them here?

Fish will do just fine generally in a ph from the high 6's to the low 8's and I wouldn't try and lower it, even with peat until we know the above readings.

 

I don't have the numbers in front of me but been testing every day, it has very low like 6.2 or that's as low.as.mine goes but it's maybe even lower, and the harness is.say 300 I think it's the max on my scale, I tested another tank which is same tap water , I have just a few plants sand substrate, and shrimp and snails in it a 10 gallon, the readings are perfect or what says ideal for everything, ph and the hardness? That's with a very small.filter on it, I just thought of something I always had a fluval canister for 14 years it finally died , on more a budget with family and kids I got a hob filter that said it can do up to a 50 maybe 60 gallon , I always wanted to do more so it would recycle the water faster, got one , and didn't know about the true cycling of a tank till I found you guys and gals, it kept getting cloudy I took and rehashed the filters completely, I know not cool, then it would be good then cloud up which is what it needs to do, ;( I went and got another filter for the back same size , could that be an issues , I have ceramic in bottom of one and a panty hose full of carbon in 2 of them ..... I'm lost

 

Go to your ph thread and we'll get it all figured out as this one is pikapeeps

 

Go to your ph thread and we'll get it all figured out as this one is pikapeeps

Haha XD it's fine. Suprisingly the ph settled to a neutral 7.2 on it's own. Hardness is still high but another problem arose. The nitrates are at it's highest! I will apreciate any advice/help. Here are my water parameters:

Nitrates:200
Nitrites:0
Hardness:300 gh
Chlorine:0
Alkalinity: between 0 and 40 kh
Ph:7.2
Ammonia: between 0 and 0.5

P.s. there are no fish in there, just 4 ghost shrimp and 1 nerite snail. They seem to be doing fine (I would assume) because they're eating, swimming and no one has died. It's a 10 gallon tank with temperature constant at around 78°F if that helps.

 

Haha XD it's fine. Suprisingly the ph settled to a neutral 7.2 on it's own. Hardness is still high but another problem arose. The nitrates are at it's highest!�� I will apreciate any advice/help. Here are my water parameters:

Nitrates:200
Nitrites:0
Hardness:300 gh
Chlorine:0
Alkalinity: between 0 and 40 kh
Ph:7.2
Ammonia: between 0 and 0.5

That's on your tank right? Will you test your tap and post those so we can figure out what your tap alkalinity is. Its possible that with your super high nitrates your alkalinity has dropped a lot and I'm afraid you'll have a ph crash if you don't do some water changes today.

I would do a couple of 50% water changes today and another tomorrow to get the nitrates back down below 20 as nitrates that high are quite toxic themselves.

I would not use anything to lower your ph or hardness still until we know your tap alkalinity as not only do softeners lower your hardness but they also lower your alkalinity which holds your ph.

I have lucky bamboo in my 33g community aquarium and its been in there for at least a couple of years so I think its fine to have it in there. You just want to make sure the leaves are above the water line.
Here is a link on luckybamboo:


What are you using to test your water?

 

Ok, will do the water changes. Would you like me to add any conditioner to the tap water before I test it?
I'm using tetra's easy strips 6 in 1

 

Yeah that's a good idea to add the water conditioner first.

 

Ok tap water with conditioner's alkalinity is between 40 and 80 it's weird because water hardness is a little less at 100. Ph is 7.8 everything else is 0

 

What is your substrate? I definitely wouldn't try and lower your hardness or ph

 

It's kinda all mixed with small and big rocks, gravel and marbel rocks( I'm what they're called)

 

I'm thinking of changing to sand. Will that be ok? Or small gravel?

 

Here's a picture. Any specific time range in which I should do the 50% water changes? I just finished one

 

Yep, sand is fine, I think easier to keep clean than small gravel. Are there shells in there? With your nitrates being so high I'd probably wait 6 hours at least before doing the next one so as not to shock your fish.

 

The only shells in there are the nerite and half of a small Asian clam (those brown ones common in freshwater lakes and rivers).
If I test the water and evwrything is fine before doing the second water change, would you still recommend I change the water or leave it as it is?

 

If your nitrates were truly 200 I don't think they will be but yes, if they show up low then you wouldn't have to do another.

I'd recommend getting the API Master Liquid Test kit because its accurate

Those shells are helping out your Gh/Kh so make sure you keep them when you switch substrates.

 

Ok will do. I was going to get the master test kit but my store ran out and I needed to test my water quickly so I got the strips instead.

Thank you so much FreshAquariums and CindiL. You both have been a very big help and I truly appreciate it! I'll keep you posted on my tank if you'd like.

 

That would be great.

 

Ok update. Nitrates are down to 40, hardness is a little lower at 150. I just can't seem to get the alkalinity up. Should I do just one more 50% water change?

 

Yeah I would. You want nitrates below 20 at all times ideally. From here on out make sure to do 30-50% water changes weekly.

Shells will increase the alkalinity naturally but they take a few days. You can add 1/4tsp baking soda mixed with a little tank water to increase alkalinity. Re-test alkalinity after an hour and add another 1/4 tsp if needed.

Your hardness looks good for your shrimp and snails. They need the minerals.

 

I have some sea shells about 3" big. Should I add one to increase alkalinity? I'm thinking of adding platties soon so I want the water safe, is the hardness fine for them?

 

You want your hardness to be at least 150ppm for platies yeah add the shell and see how much it helps in a few days.

 

No worries. I only have platies in mind and I think this last water change has helped a lot. You think 1 male will be fine with 4 females?
Also, I hear that shells raise Ph. Is this ok?

 

Oh sorry, I was thinking of someone else's thread that has goldies when I wrote that. Unless you want a TON of fry I would go with all males

Yes, its ok to have your ph go up some.

 

Haha it's fine. You do seem like you're helping a lot of peoe out and I really appreciate that. Thank you for caring .
I think I'll go with all females so there's no dominance issues with males

 

That's fine but just be warned (and I'm speaking from direct experience! )

I had an all female tank (guppies, mollies, platies) and had continual fry for a year. They all come home already pregnant usually and they can hold sperm up to a year and keep having more fry. I ended up setting up a 10 gallon fry tank and luckily had a local store that would take them when they were about 3-4 months old.

 

That's A LOT of babies!!! I'll buy a smaller tank to move the fry to and find a home for them because I can't have too much fish in the tank . I hope my local fish store can take them in.

 

I think you'd be alright with an all male tank. I have male endlers in my 5 gallon shrimp tank and they do fine together. I also have all male guppies now (8 of them) in my 33g long tank and they for the most part do fine together. They chase each other here and there but no one is ever hurt.

 

Ok I'll go with that then. That way I don't spend more money than I have to and keeps me from stressing over the death of any fry. Once again, thank you so much for taking time off your day to help us in need. Have have a great rest of your day/evening.