lowering pH/softening water

[KB87]

Hi everyone, I'm new, so just a bit of info on my tank... I have a pair of rams with some tetras, corries and a gold nugget plec. Right now I have my pH at 7 and the water is between "soft" and "hard" on my test strips(I know strips aren't the most accutate... but general idea...) And my rams are acting like they would like to spawn. I think the female is too small, but when she gets big enough I would like to have the water parameters for them. The only chemichal I use is neutral regulator. I would like to know how to soften my water and hopefully lower the pH. Is there a chemical that would work, though I would like to keep chemical to a minimum... Has anyone used "Discus Buffer" by Seachem? Would that be mild enough not to harm my rams? Any help offered would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kelly

 

[Bangin]

You really should use reverse osmosis (R/O) water for rams. They will prefer the softer water and lower ph. It can be purchased at many LFS' and other stores.

 

[Fishkiller]

The parameters of your water are within comfort level of your fish i wouldnt even bother. They will spawn wiothout a bother of softness and alkalinity

 

[Nidge]

If you want to soften your water you can do so by adding bog wood and-or putting some peat into your filter this is the best way to do it without adding chemicals which i always try to avoid.

 

[impur]

I'm with Fishkiller. Odds are these rams have NEVER been in the same type of water that is their natural environment. Most likely they are tank raised and in turn have encountered many different water parameters. If they are comfortable, they will most likely spawn.

 

[Bangin]

If they are comfortable, they will most likely spawn.

Although I've never tried to breed rams, several people have mentioned fungus growing on the eggs in harder water.

 

[Fishkiller]

nahhh i have really hard water being i have a well in florida. and none of my eggs fungus. Now if you have large amounts of bacteria in your water thats another problem.

 

[KB87]

No large amount of bacteria I wouldn't think... I obsess about my tank. One of my tanks got HITH and I bought new gravel vacs and buckets, washing may not get it all or I may leave a bit of soap I think the only disease I've EVER had in that tank was Neon tetra disease and only two neons seemed to have gotten it. So unless it's in my tap (if so someone's going down!) I don't think so.

Anyway, thank you for the opinions and advice. I may get another piece of bog wood, or perhaps just a larger one. I have one, but not much. For peat in the filter... How do I SLOWLY introduce that? I know how rams don't like their water changing, also, how do you soften it before adding water? That's where my trouble with that is.

RO water? I haven't seen it around here. Maybe you have to ask. I don't really have the money to be paying for water like that. (BTW, I'm 16 and jobless!) But thanks.

Kelly

 

[Fishkiller]

Well personally i use oak in my aquariums and it seems to be working quite well on a low budget me also being 16 and jobless. But if you introduce the wood into your aquairum they wont feel they effect for a while. maybe a week to stabilize. So if your worried about sudden changes dont be.

 

[Fishkiller]

Well personally i use oak in my aquariums and it seems to be working quite well on a low budget me also being 16 and jobless. But if you introduce the wood into your aquairum they wont feel they effect for a while. maybe a week to stabilize. So if your worried about sudden changes dont be.

Gooood luck?

 

[impur]

You can get RO water pretty much anywhere. I get it from walmart, the green labeled gallon containers. There are also lots of grocery stores that have the RO/DI water dispensers. You can fill a 5 gal container (one of the ones from a water dispenser) there for something like 30 cents a gallon. I have tested the RO water i use and the pH is around 6. I think in this instance you might have to buffer the water also, so its probably not worth the hassle.

 

[Fishkiller]

Here read this an interesting look wood usage and ph lowering effects http/www.atchison.com/ArticlesandStories/wood.htm