high ph and alkalinity levels

[brookie]

is there a home remidy to high ph and alkalinity levels

 

[Alien Anna]

Put some bogwood in your tank to slowly reduce pH. Also, if its a major problem, consider pre-filtering your water through peat.

However, be very, very careful before trying to alter pH and make sure you've thought it through before you do so. Also make sure its absolutely necessary.

 

[brookie]

this is imbarassing but what is bog wood or peat i know nothing

 

[Alien Anna]

this is imbarassing but what is bog wood or peat i know nothing

Bogwood is a kind of wood that is dug up from peat bogs, dried out and then sold through aquarium shops for people's fish tanks. You can also use Mopani wood, which is the root of a bog tree (the Mopani tree). Ask in your LFS.

Peat is a substance dug up from bogs used for centuries as a fuel source, garden fertiliser and in Ireland it's still used occasionally for roofing material. It's sold in all sorts of expensive forms in LFS's, impregnating filter sponges, in little granuals, in balls etc. but I usually buy a bale of 100% pure Irish Moss Peat from the garden centre.

You can pre-filter through peat by getting a plastic bucket and drilling a hole in the bottom. Then cover the bottom of the bucket with a layer of filter floss and then fill it up with pure peat (not fertiliser's added). Then drip the water through the peat into a second bucket. It softens the water naturally and lowers the pH (although you have to leave the water to stand a while for the CO2 to come out of solution so you can get an accurate pH). Alternatively, you can buy the expensive peat products to add to your filter, or just stuff an old stocking full of moss peat into your filter.

The main disadvantage is that it stains your water golden brown.

 

[dan_acc]

Aquarium Pharmecueticals makes a product for this called a water softening pillow. I had a very high GH = 15 degrees and this product has worked well for me. You just drop it in your filter box and after about 48 hours you're hardness will come down and PH will be more adjustable. It's also reusable.