phosphate levels

[MM_0001]

My tap water is ph 8.0 and I require ph of 6.5 so I use a buffer to achieve this.

The additives I've tried send my phospates through the roof, does anyone know of a buffer that does not add to phosphate levels, or a relatively easy way of maintaing ph 6.5 other than using ph buffers.

Cheers

MM

 

[wetwetwet]

*bump*

not a big fan of messing too much with the water - I've never really heard any good reports on using pH down additives, allways seems to be hard work (increasing not so difficult to achieve)

It all gets a bit technical for me

If your that keen to get to 6.5 it may be better to start with RO water - but then its getting a bit more expensive (or maybe not - these additives cost?)

I asked in another thread but what fish are you keeping that need 6.5?

 

[MM_0001]

I was aiming to keep South American cichlids, particularily Angels & Dwarf Cichlids. Even if I don't get the ph down to 6.5 it still needs to be a lot lower than 8.0.

I didn't really want to go down the RO water route, but it may be the only option; as an asside, what would be the ph of RO water that started at roughly ph 8.0?

Rather than trying to remove the phosphate could I just accept that my phosphate levels will be high and act accordingly maybe -

1) Lights on for only a couple of hours,
2) Buy algea eating fish,
3) Invest in a UV filter,

or some combination of all three.

Are there any other good algae prevention methods.

Thanks

MM

 

[Dragonslair]

I would like to ask the question also. What fish do you have that require such a Ph?
Were these fish bred in captivity or imported direct from abroad? Where do you live that has a Ph of 8?

 

[MM_0001]

I live in Yorkshire, the water is quite soft but alkaline, I've known it as alkaline as 9.0 but that was the exception not the rule.

The tank isn't stocked as yet, I was just aiming for ph 6.5 as all the reading I've done so far pointed in that direction.

Thanks again

MM

 

[CFC]

As far as i know all RO water has a pH of 7 (neutral) but as the water is buffer free and you add the trace elements back in to suit the hardness you require this is easily brought down to 6.5 by adding peat to the filter and using bogwood in the tank.
I personally think that RO water is far superior to tapwater,i have been using it for a while now and have had no problems apart from over the last couple of weeks,i have had to use tapwater (lack of funds to buy the RO ) and my algea has come back and one of my fish has developed popeye.

 

[Dragonslair]

Goodness me, Ph of 9. I can recommend Phos-Zorb to get rid of the high Phosphates. It works out quite expensive. RRP is around £9.00 and will last around 6 weeks. If the phosphates are not too high the resins will last longer. You will need to change the resin once it becomes full because it will dump the phosphates back into the tank. Now if you go down the road of lowering the Ph you will need to keep it there permanantly. There are crystals you can purchase that make the water acid and therefore lower the Ph. However if the fish you intend to purchase are from your lfs and their water in 8 and/or above and you lower your tank. Your fish will suffer. Try and keep your water parameters as close to the one in your lfs. If that means going against all that you know to be right than so be it. The fish would have been reared in that water and would have naturally adapted to it.

 

[wetwetwet]

Yep as Dragon says

In the books they give the requirements for fish in their natural habitat....

Majority of the fish in the lfs have been captive breed for many generations and are adapted to less extreem parameters

Check with your lfs to see what they keep them in.....

Or in the long run it might be easier to keep fish that suit your local water

 

[BillyBigBananas]

I personally think that RO water is far superior to tapwater,i have been using it for a while now and have had no problems apart from over the last couple of weeks,i have had to use tapwater (lack of funds to buy the RO ) and my algea has come back and one of my fish has developed popeye.

Do you actually buy the RO water? Why not get an RO unit plumbed in or are they too expensive?

Billy

 

[dolphin]

Hi MM

As your water is soft, it will be easy to drop the pH by adding peat to the water change process. You will need to filter the water through peat prior to adding it to the tank. I do not recomend adding peat to the tank filter, as it can cause the pH to crash, if the water is soft.

 

[CFC]

Why not get an RO unit plumbed in or are they too expensive?

I live in a rented flat and our land lord wont allow us to make any permament changes to the flat,so no RO unit and no fish house

As sooon as i can buy a place i will get a RO unit,it will save me a fortune.

 

[dolphin]

Evening CFC.

When you do get A RO unit, get one from over the pond. Even with the shipping charges, they are about 65% of UK prices.

I baught a Kent HIs-60 for £220, then saw it on a US site for $199, I was gutted.

Shipping from the US is about $40 for about 10lb of weight, if not less, it still works out at less than £150.

 

[impur]

Here ya go, all the phosphate removers you will ever need in one place, just for you brits

Phosphate removal linkage

The Rowaphos is supposed to be great.

 

[CFC]

Cheers Dolphin,it would seem that everything is cheaper across the pond,it makes you wonder why they dont all have 200 gallon tanks and huge fish houses
I have seen a RO unit over here for £160,i dont know what make or how good it was,i was very tempted to buy it but the mrs put her foot down,for some reason she dosent think the welfare of my fish is worth getting kicked out for

 

[revengeishere]

The poster above is correct. Check wether the fishes are captive bred or not. I called my lfs and they told me that the fishes i bought from them are well adapted to san diego water(which is around 7.5 and 8 so im not really worried. Im keeping tiger babrbs ad bala sharks which requires a slightly acidic water, but i didnt mess with the water and they are still doing really well. no casualty with the tiger barbs but all of my bala sharks but two died(because if ich), it was my fault tho, i didnt know the warning signs of ich, and i waited like 3 days when the white spots appeared bfore i did something. I did save 3 tiger barbs who had the white spots already(and so did the two sharks).

So the best thing is, call your lfs and ask them.