Oddball PH

[Paul_MTS]

Got my Digital PH tester through the post this morning and had a few surprises!!

My 850l tank with my arowana in is 7.9
My ehiem 360l with cichlids and catfish is 7.6
My planted 120l community with CO2 and lots of plecs is at 7.5
My breeding convits are in 7.8
and my crab tank is 8

I Would of thought the big tank would be more like the ehiems PH as it has about 6 large pieces of bogwood and the eheim has 2 large pieces.

In light of this should I try to bring my 850l PH down a bit further?

And what would be the best way of doing this? CO2 injection?

A customer came in the other day saying he's had good success with Interpets PH down powder which he's been using for discus.

I think in the shop we Use Waterlife Acid Buffer which seems good by what he says on the packet.

 

[CFC]

Avoid using chemicals if you can, this is not only a dangerous way of bringing your pH down but also a expensive way if you are trying to treat 200 gallons of water.
Personally i would invest in a softener king tube (available from wholesale tropicals who may be able to mail order it to you) which costs around £40 for the proffesional size and will lower the KH of your water, then with the KH lowered you will be able to bring the pH down easily using peat in the filter.
To use the softener king simply conect it inline on your hose when doing water changes and allow the water to slowly run through the tube.

Wholesale Tropicals phone number is 0207 739 5356, ask for Terry.

BTW how did you calibrate the pH tester?

 

[Paul_MTS]

I wasn't going to use chemicals but then the guy seem quite convinced!!

I'll have to see about that, we have a electrode softner for the pipe going to the washing machine. I'll see if I can order anything like that in at work.

I'll have a KH test kit Friday aslong as it comes in the order so will beable to look into that more then.

I hope it doesn't do it too slowly, could be standing there for a while!!

Any idea how much peat I would need?...dependant on KH of course, I had another read on that site so I'll match my results to his.

The PH tester came ready calibrated although I notice in the instructions that you're meant to do it every now and then and clean it with distilled water Where can I get that? I was looking on the order pad the other day so I'll order in some calibration fluid in the coming weeks.

 

[SirMinion]

You'll be able to pick up distilled water from any Halfords and also from most pharmacies.

How much was that digital pH tester Paul?

 

[Paul_MTS]

Oh good, have to drop by one.

Urm was about £20 off ebay, it works out about the same that we can order them in for but I could see what i was getting off ebay!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

Recently joined another forum and they seem to religously suggest coral chips to sustain stabalise PH.

Are these a good idea to use along side my peat?

 

[Paul_MTS]

Oki dokey, got my test kit and the results are pretty high!!

KH- 11odKH- 187ppm
GH- 19oGH- 340.1ppm

 

[CFC]

Adding coral chips will simply raise the KH higher, something you clearly dont want to do.
As i suggested before lower the KH via a aquarium grade water softening device like softner king and then use peat in the filtration to lower the pH and GH. The other choice is buying a R/O unit but if you are on a water meter this could prove to be very costly.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Yeah I read up on the coral chips and realised they raised the PH

Hmm I'm going to have to look into this softener more. Any ideas on Gallons per minute etc? Do you know if there's a makers website I couldn't kind any info on it.

I think a RO unit is out of the question as the tank takes up enough space and the barrell I would need to hold the water for a water change would be 70gallons, plus I would need to add a load of chemicals to add beneficial things back in right?
Yeh we are on a water meter and although I'm not paying anything towards it at the moment as it hadn't changed much, my bills for electrics are £60. Do RO units produce waste water aswell?

 

[Paul_MTS]

Had a look through the order catalogue today and found the folling things that may be of use to me???

I'm about to start searching but if any one knows are anothing about these that would be great.

API Tapwater Purifier
Aquatique De-ioniser
Aqua Cure Duo Mains Water Filter
Aqua Cure Triple Mains Water Filter
Aqua Cyre Tap Water Filter
Water life De-ioniser.

 

[CFC]

I believe that a de ioniser will lower the KH but i may be wrong, try dropping Lateral line a PM as he should know more about this sort of stuff.

A R/O unit depending on make and quallity will waste between 2 and 10 gallons of water per 1 gallon of R/O water created so they really are not practical for those on water meters.

 

[Paul_MTS]

oKi dokey, I'll drop lateral a line

Hmmmmmm definately not for me, maybe for a smaller tank!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

Bored at home......

Just gave Wholesale Tropicals a bell and they only do about 1 gallon/minute and even professional size would need recharging after every 60gallons. So after each water change i would need recharge/replace the resin.

He also said they woudn't post.

Do I have any other options?...apart from RO.