buffering water hardness and Ph

cdawson

cdawson

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Jan 6, 2003
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What is the best way to buffer my ph and water hardness? I've got two mono argentus that I want perfect water quality for (so I don't stress over them so much.). I recently got them and 5 days after getting them they are still swimming up and down in the left side of the tank occasionally moving around the tank but are spooked whenever they come near my green spotted puffer. Ph is 7.0, 0 ammonia, sg is about 1.007 right now (estimated, my hydrometer doesn't register lower than 1.010). Should be around 1.014 in about 6 weeks of adding two tablespoons of instant ocean a night.
 
I don't think pH & hardness is as important as getting your monos seperated from the puffer. The puffer is probably always going to be agressive towards them. Chemicals made to add to the tank to change water parameters don't usually last & then they are constantl fluctuating, which can be more stressful that just leaving it.
 
I've barely got any cover in the tank right now which could be the reason this happens between the monos and the puffer. The puffer had plenty of chances to attack the other fish in the old tank and never did. There was plenty of cover there though. All I've got right now are two root ornaments (large and small). I'm pretty sure I need another large one and maybe some driftwood for enough cover.
 
A good thing to increase hardness and raise pH in brackish set up like yours is to use aragonite gravel or sand as your substrate. This is widely available in most LFS. Aragonite is very good at buffering water and maintaining a high pH. Use this as your sole substrate or simply add a large amount to your current substrate and you mostly likely never have to worry about low pH and hardness again. Just make sure that if you are replacing or adding aragonite, not to make very large changes at one time or you will disturb your bacterial colony, and might encounter a mini-cycle.
 
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