Ph

[Rouen]

hey, I have a small aquarium set up with some fish that some people consider delicate(clown loach, farlowellas, and yes I know how big they get) I've been trying to deal with the pH for years, my tap water is higher than 8.0, is there anything I can do to keep the pH closer to neutral? while my fish seem to be flourishing some of my plants dont seem to be doing so hot, though my anubias looks great and is growing rapidly.
I'm open to suggestions.
the water in my area has alot of lime, which is why its so alkaline.

 

[minxfishy]

Trying to change ph is sometimes a difficult thing to get right and can lead to fluctuations in the ph of the tank - which is something you want to avoid.

Whilst you think your ph is quite high, providing it stays stable that is the most important part for the fish.

You say they are thiriving, well they are obviously quite happy, I would not try to adjust the ph of the tank. Natural sources of lowering ph are adding bogwood to the tank - you could try that - although the difference Ive found is small but worth a try.

I cant help with the plants but someone else will be along shortly with more advice for you

 

[rocknurworld2006]

try peat

 

[rhostog]

Our water here is pH about 7.9 and very hard, but doesn't seem to be a problem for at least some of our plants. The cabomba and water wisteria in particular are doing really well, also Java moss, and something called Echinodorus bleheri (paniculatus) (well that's what it said on the label! ) Some of the others I've tried haven't thrived, including a really pretty grass , and I've removed most of them altogether as they obviously weren't happy, though I suspect at least part of the problem was an algae infestation. I don't add CO2, I feed them with a liquid fertiliser at the specified dose when I do a water change, and occasionally trim them when they get too carried away, but that's all.

Perhaps it's just best to experiment with different plants until you find some which, like your anubias, are happy in your set-up? (I'll look out for anubias next time I go to the shop - maybe it will work for me too...)

From experience, I'd recommend not trying to lower your pH chemically with something like pH minus, especially as your water is hard. It only works temporarily, and the fluctuations in pH that result can do more harm to your fish than a steady high pH which they're adapted to.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

dont use any chemicals whatsoever as its just a recipe or disaster.

try things like peat and bogwood

 

[djceri_g]

what about having a RO unit? Im not familiar with these but Im sure their purpose is to make the watr softer and safer?

 

[Rouen]

I thought about using peat, though the thought of it containing chemicals has kept me from actually using it. I have a Echinodorus of some sort, it's still alive but very short and bushy and rather transparent, I've also got a couple of java ferns that are doing okay but should be doing better.
I did a quick search on Reverse Osmosis systems, I didn't see anything about pH.

 

[rhostog]

RO water is pure, without any minerals. You need to add a mineral mix to make it suitable for fish, or mix it with your tapwater. This means you can control the hardness and pH of the resulting water. You can buy your own unit, or some fish shops sell RO water.

As your fish are flourishing, if it's just the plants that are the problem, it might not be the water? Could it be the lighting (type, strength and hours), CO2, feeding, or temperature? (Sorry if this is stating the obvious, just things to check ). In my tank, the following are doing well in very hard pH 7.9 water, with no CO2 added, the minimal 2 x 11W fluorescent lighting built into the tank, and liquid feed: green cabomba, echinodorus bleheri, hygrophila difformis, hygrophila polyspermis, java moss, but I've had less success with corkscrew vallis, pennywort and another sort of hygrophila (I think) that died before I could identify it.

There's a pinned topic in the Plants & Planted Tanks section which lists some common plants and their requirements - you might get some expert advice if you post a query in that section of the forum?

[topic="22604"]Aquarium Plants[/topic]

Good luck - hope this helps.