water pH for angelfish

[vmahaffe]

Ok, I am confused about pH for angels. I am currently using RO water on my wild Peruvians. KH is 4 and pH is 7.0. If I want my water to be more acidic do I:
A) Add buffer to water before adding it to my tank to get the pH where I want it
or
B) Use CO2 to set the pH whereI want it

What's the difference with setting pH with CO2 vs. buffers? If the water needs buffers then how do I know what to set the CO2 at for optimal conditions for the plants?
Thanks.

[Lupin]

If you want acidic water, get oak or Indian almond leaves. The tannins will lower the pH but be sure to monitor carefully. This is rather tedious though. If the angels are already accustomed to the current water conditions, don't change.

[7itanium]

Pretty sure angels like a higher PH (after all they are cichlids)

but im not positive on that-- Ive never kept them

[Draal5]

What are you using now RO water is very unstable and pron to PH swings ?

wild Peruvians are the easiest of the wilds to keep they were probably already acclimated to your local tap water if you bought them from a LFS.

There is really no reason to use strait Ro for wild Peruvians. True Altums yes They need straight RO and very little TDS.

[PopPopsfish]

If you want acidic water, get oak or Indian almond leaves. The tannins will lower the pH but be sure to monitor carefully. This is rather tedious though. If the angels are already accustomed to the current water conditions, don't change.


:iagree: we use a ton of almond leaves in our systems with much success.

Ph must be monitored on a regular basics.

If you find something that works for you , DO NOT CHANGE IT!

[jpappy789]

Pretty sure angels like a higher PH (after all they are cichlids)

but im not positive on that-- Ive never kept them

Not all cichlids like hard water.

Locations in Central/South America and W Africa have softer water, although it depends greatly on the actual water source...

But back to the OP...To be honest, pH won't make a huge difference. Changing your pH with buffers or Co2 won't change the TDS. GH/KH are far more important.

[vmahaffe]

What are you using now RO water is very unstable and pron to PH swings ?

wild Peruvians are the easiest of the wilds to keep they were probably already acclimated to your local tap water if you bought them from a LFS.

There is really no reason to use strait Ro for wild Peruvians. True Altums yes They need straight RO and very little TDS.

I recently moved and the tap water in my new house has a KH of 19. The LFS I bought them from had a KH of 7, so I thought the KH would be way too high for wilds to spawn successfully. My plan is to eventually get altums once I get a feel for the Peruvians.
I traded some CO2 equipment for the RO system, so I figured may as well try it out. pH is stable from the RO until at 7.0. I just figured the fish might be even happier with an environment closer to "home".

[EdFanatic]

would driftwood be considered? doesn't driftwood lower the pH?

[jpappy789]

Have you tested GH? It should be virtually zero for pure RO...

[vmahaffe]

Have you tested GH? It should be virtually zero for pure RO...
I haven't tested GH yet. Is it weird to have a starting KH of 19 and a final one of 4? Shouldn't that be zero after RO filtration? I have a DI filter for the system that I took off, because I was worried about stripping too much stuff from the water. I fgured using RO right would give some good stuff back.

[Draal5]

RO water is striped of all minerals (buffers for ph) if you are reading &.0 you are actually getting the ph of the testing solution not the water you need to add back some buffers to the water like kent ro right, electro right just to name 2 as well as disscus buffer for the right ph.

you could also just add some tap water to the ro till you get the right mix I strongly sugest you go to simply discus to their water work fourm there is all you will ever need to learn about get your water right and stable.

doing what you are doing now is leaving your water unstable.

also invest in a cheep TDS meter then you dont need kh and gh tests once you learn.

water chemestry is very complacated thats why here you get the advice to leave your water alone.

ps my provian spawns in my tap water TDS @375 ph 7.5

good luck

[Lupin]

would driftwood be considered? doesn't driftwood lower the pH?
Driftwoods do have tannins to lower the pH however the amount of tannins leached diminishes over time which makes them less preferred to the oak or Indian almond leaves.