Sourcing Limestone Rocks

[Jo Booth]

Hi guys

I need advice for someone trying to raise pH levels from around 6 to more neutral or even slightly higher than neutral for the fish that they are wanting to put into their tank after a re-shuffle.

The tank is well planted an aerated but the general water hardness is soft and tap water seems more acidic than neutral when testing.

We have read that you can add limestone chippings to the tank but we are unsure of where to purchase these from as if say from a stone supplier they are worried that there may be other chemicals on the stone chips that would render it danagerous to the fish.

All help greatly appreciated as always.

Jo

 

[joecoral]

Go to an LFS. You can usually buy a 25kg sack of ocean rock for about £25, or sacks or coral gravel/sand, all of which will raise hardness/pH
Or you could use a liquid buffer, also available at the LFS.

Do you add CO2 to your planted tank, as this could lower the pH?
To be honest, a pH of 6 is no great problem, I live in a soft acidic water and my pH is always around the 6/6.5 mark, and it does no my harm to my fish, keeping the pH consistent is the main thing to worry about, just dont go adding any hardwater (eg african) fish as they may not appreciate the pH

 

[Jo Booth]

thanks for the reply.

Ive just spoken to my mate who says they are sure the pH has always been around that level or slihtly more towards neutal when testing. Whatever it is they are adding needs to be higher but I didn't ask what they were.

We have a good lfs nearby but as I have never needed said rocks, Ive never noticed if they stocked them.

Thaks again