pH

[JBB1979]

So I've fishless cycled my tank. But......I didn't know African Dwarf Frogs require around a 7pH. So it seems I have to start all over, since my tap water is at about 8.2-8.4. I tried adding driftwood, peat moss in a net bag to the bottom of the tank, and (9) 2.5 doses of a pH lower product. Stuck at 8 pH, which is too close to 8.5 for me to feel good about adding frogs.

My question is this, do I need to buy a countertop RO (I live in apartment) and just cut the water with filtered water to bring down pH? I just ordered a KH and GH test kit which should arrive in a few days but should I also buy the RO unit to simplify water changes and lower pH? Thank you much

 

[Geordie Paul]

Your aquarium store should have bottles that drop the PH just make sure you talk to someone and buy the right one. The driftwood does help over time and an airstone wouldn't hurt either. Also distilled or reverse osmosis water has a Ph of 5-7.

 

[Essjay]

Did you get the GH & KH test kit?

KH is the measure of buffer in the water, a buffer being something which resists changes in pH. If there is high KH it is difficult to change pH as the buffer reacts with the substance used to try and change the pH. When chemicals are used, they drop the pH initially, then the buffer kicks in and the pH rises again. This yoyoing pH is worse for fish - and frogs - than a constant pH at the 'wrong' level.
Water which has high KH usually also has high GH - in other words, hard water. Using RO will dilute both GH and KH. With less KH in the water, things like wood, peat etc will have more effect at lowering pH. I prefer to use natural materials rather than chemicals from a bottle. A lot of pH lowering chemicals contain things like phosphate which we don't want to add.

 

[JBB1979]

Thanks y'all,
Would you say I'm ok if my RO only brings down the KH and GH both to 5? I mean, I could supplement the water with minerals to raise both, if needed - no?

 

[Essjay]

5 dH is fine for soft water fish and frogs. Mine is that level out of the tap. And my KH is around 3. I don't add any minerals to it.

 

[JBB1979]

I'm really only thinking of increasing the KH to increase the buffering capacity of the water, do you find that the pH swings around, or not so much?

 

[mrsjoannh13]

@JBB1979 - I have the same issue. My water is about 8.2 pH and I want to get it lower for the type of fish I have and plan to get in the future. I tried adding peat granules in a bag in the tank's HOB filter and it is not having much effect. So yesterday I filled up my 5 gallon container that I use for refills during weekly water changes. I added 1 cup of peat granules in a mesh bag and let it sit in the water overnight. The pH was reduced from an 8.2 to a 7.6 in the container. So what I'll plan to do each week is fill up the container and let the peat granules sit overnight. Over time, by replacing 20% of my water (20g tank) it should hopefully slowly lower the pH of my tank. I might have to play with the amount of peat in the future once I get the tank to the mid 7's for pH but it seems to have worked. I am using Fluval Aquatic Peat Granules.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00025642Q/?tag=ff0d01-20

 

[Essjay]

I'm really only thinking of increasing the KH to increase the buffering capacity of the water, do you find that the pH swings around, or not so much?

Years and years ago I had a pH crash which is why I went searching for the answer on-line and found a couple of forums. The reason was my low KH coupled with my laziness - I was doing 25% water changes every 3 to 4 weeks in an overstocked tank. I started doing the water changes every week, originally just 25% but slowly increasing to the 50% I do now. Since starting the weekly water changes, I've not had a problem.
You KH is higher than mine, and if weekly water changes were the answer for me, you will be fine doing them weekly as well.

 

[seangee]

You KH is higher than mine, and if weekly water changes were the answer for me, you will be fine doing them weekly as well.

I agree. 3 of my tanks have KH of 0. The pH in all of these is stable Low but stable. But I do do 75% weekly water changes.