Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
When I started this thread the ph in the Cuipeua tank was 7.13 which was right after I did a WC where the water was prepped at noted in the first post. The ph has since drifted below the 7.0 mark to about 6.90.
Pat
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Pat,
Try a box of these.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=21338
I purchased a bulk supply (6 boxes thinking that I would replace them once a month). I used 1 box so far and have not added any new one. It will drop your pH.
Van
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DiscusOnly
Thanks Van, what size tank are you using this in?
Pat
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Pat,
I started with 1/2 a box on a 75 gallon. I added to the tank via a media bag in the AC110. It gave me some nice tannin but as it wore off, I put in the other half. Instead of dumping out the old ones, I just spread it on the bottom of the tank. I am using RO water only. pH drops down to low 4's within 12 hours. 50% WC brings the pH up to mid 5's For now, I don't have any tannin color but I didn't want to mess with the tank much as I think I got the water to be where I wanted. Slowly, I am thinking of adding a piece of DW but I never have good experience with those, especially with low pH water. I may put a little of the tea you suggested back soon.
I need to recalibrate my EC meter but don't have the correct solution (need to order some). With the TDS meter, it's around 60ppm.
Van
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Thanks Van, it could take a lot of peat to affect the ph in this tank which is 230 gallons. So far the ph is falling slowly. Tomorrow I am doing a 50% WC and expect to see an small increase in ph and have it drop back down. The ph is currently 6.91.
Pat
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Second Hand Pat
Thanks Van, it could take a lot of peat to affect the ph in this tank which is 230 gallons. So far the ph is falling slowly. Tomorrow I am doing a 50% WC and expect to see an small increase in ph and have it drop back down. The ph is currently 6.91.
Pat
Are you using the peat in your tank, or are you using it to condition the water in you water change barrel? If the tank, wouldn't you continually have fluctuating water conditions every time you did a water change?
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Rick, not using peak currently.
Pat
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Second Hand Pat
Thanks Van, it could take a lot of peat to affect the ph in this tank which is 230 gallons. So far the ph is falling slowly. Tomorrow I am doing a 50% WC and expect to see an small increase in ph and have it drop back down. The ph is currently 6.91.
Pat
Pat,
It took me a few months with the peat in the tank and using RO only. I've only used 1 box of the 1lb super peat so far and have not used anymore. I began using it at the end of June.
I introduced the tea back to the tank last night to add some color and did see a small slight bump in pH (4.2 to 4.3) When I get a chance over the weekend, I'll post a video of the tank.
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nc0gnet0
Are you using the peat in your tank, or are you using it to condition the water in you water change barrel? If the tank, wouldn't you continually have fluctuating water conditions every time you did a water change?
I know the question was to Pat but Rick, I do get the pH to swing up to mid 5's whenever I do WC and add new RO. Overnight the pH drops back to the 4's. If I do too big of a WC, it will take I up to 6's.
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nc0gnet0
Are you using the peat in your tank, or are you using it to condition the water in you water change barrel? If the tank, wouldn't you continually have fluctuating water conditions every time you did a water change?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DiscusOnly
I know the question was to Pat but Rick, I do get the pH to swing up to mid 5's whenever I do WC and add new RO. Overnight the pH drops back to the 4's. If I do too big of a WC, it will take I up to 6's.
Even thru I am not currently using peat. To add to Rick's question and Van's observation...I do see a ph rise from 5.5 to 5.9 when I do a 50% water change on the altum tank. The ph drops back to 5.5 over a 24 hour period. So after the initial ph fluctuation the water parameters are steady. Please note the ph changes does not bother the altums one bit. If there is any fish sensitive to change it is altums.
Also note that my observations in the altum tank is what has lead me to try this on the Cuipeua tank.
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Second Hand Pat
Even thru I am not currently using peat. To add to Rick's question and Van's observation...I do see a ph rise from 5.5 to 5.9 when I do a 50% water change on the altum tank. The ph drops back to 5.5 over a 24 hour period. So after the initial ph fluctuation the water parameters are steady. Please note the ph changes does not bother the altums one bit. If there is any fish sensitive to change it is altums.
Also note that my observations in the altum tank is what has lead me to try this on the Cuipeua tank.
Pat,
A few years back, I met Bev and Dale Newcomer who was raising altums and was trying to get them to breed. I believe they were using RO in their tank.
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DiscusOnly
Pat,
A few years back, I met Bev and Dale Newcomer who was raising altums and was trying to get them to breed. I believe they were using RO in their tank.
Van, one of my altum mentor's is breeding altums successfully and he is the source for how I am prepping my water for my altums. I am using RO water only for the altums, no added tap...but I do use RO Right (to adjust the TDS to 100) and Discus Essentials for additional minerals. Look at the fins on these guys. :)
Pat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOUY104wvUo
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DiscusOnly
Pat,
It took me a few months with the peat in the tank and using RO only. I've only used 1 box of the 1lb super peat so far and have not used anymore. I began using it at the end of June.
I introduced the tea back to the tank last night to add some color and did see a small slight bump in pH (4.2 to 4.3) When I get a chance over the weekend, I'll post a video of the tank.
Would love to see a video of your tank and fish Van...thank you. :D
Pat
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Second Hand Pat
Would love to see a video of your tank and fish Van...thank you. :D
Pat
Here you go Pat. Not active like your altums.
http://youtu.be/kSS1xEloHDY
Re: Playing With Water - Low Ph
Nice Van, they are nice and beefy and active like discus should be. :D Do they prefer to blow at the peat more so the sand? If yes that indicates the type/color of bottom they would prefer to hunt in. Do you add anything to your RO water?
Pat