Water Too Soft

[xanthedc]

Hi there, I have posted this in the invert column as well but as it is about water being too soft, I thought I could get some advice here too. I have apple snails and if the water is too soft, I live in Scotland the ph is 6.6, the shells get corroded. I have put in coral sand but that hasn't raised the ph. I have also started using the additive PH7 but that doesn't seem to be working either, the ph is till the same. I have a charcoal filter as part of my filter system so could this be leaching the properties of the PH7 additive. If anyone can give me advice on filters or products, I would be most grateful. Cheers Xanthe

 

[Phoenixfish]

Hi there, I have posted this in the invert column as well but as it is about water being too soft, I thought I could get some advice here too. I have apple snails and if the water is too soft, I live in Scotland the ph is 6.6, the shells get corroded. I have put in coral sand but that hasn't raised the ph. I have also started using the additive PH7 but that doesn't seem to be working either, the ph is till the same. I have a charcoal filter as part of my filter system so could this be leaching the properties of the PH7 additive. If anyone can give me advice on filters or products, I would be most grateful. Cheers Xanthe

as far as i know (but im no expert) coral sand doesn't boost the ph but stabalises/buffs it from change,
in effect working aganst your ph7 med which is being leeched by the charcoal as charcoal is used to leech out anyforms of medication ...and yes the grammar sucked...and any spellings,hey english never was my strong point

 

[voo]

Are you sure it's not being corroded from lack of calcium?
If there's not enough calcium the shell will become pitted.

 

[xanthedc]

Have been adding liquid calcium for the past month or so but once again wasn't sure whether the charcoal filter would leach its properties. Xanthe

Are you sure it's not being corroded from lack of calcium?
If there's not enough calcium the shell will become pitted.

 

[Phoenixfish]

Have been adding liquid calcium for the past month or so but once again wasn't sure whether the charcoal filter would leach its properties. Xanthe

Are you sure it's not being corroded from lack of calcium?
If there's not enough calcium the shell will become pitted.

i surgest getting rid of the charcoal,

 

[Griz]

Many people (me included) would LOVE to have 6.6 out of the tap. What is the GH and KH? I realize it's not what upu want - but you are actually very fortunate! Look into soft water fish. Better to match your fish to your water than trying to make your water match your fish.

Try some crushed coral in the filter and/or add some limestone to the tank. And I agree, dump the charcoal unless you have a specific reason for using it.

 

[africantigerfish7]

If you have any real wood in your tank, it will lower the ph, so that if you tried to buffer it to 7.0, it would still be in the 6 point range.

 

[xanthedc]

Thanks guys, its actually for my snails as the acidity corrodes their shells. But when you mentioned wood Barracuda, I have bogwood which will have been preserved in peaty acidic water. A lightbulb has gone on. Next moves are get rid of filter, get some limestone and take my wood out. Cheers.