I just bought some coconut coir fiber to use with some terrariums I'm making and I'm wondering if I can use some in my aquarium filter instead of peat, to lower my PH a bit and soften the water?
coconut fiber instead of peat?
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Lupin
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Coco fiber does release tannins. It's up to you. I don't believe though it lowers the KH, just the pH depending on the KH.
Yeah I was basically just wondering since I already bought something for another project, figured I would kill two birds with one stone. now that Im expanding it from its brick form I'm thinking I wont put it in my aquarium without some cheese cloth around it or something because it just falls apart in water and floats everywhere
and that would be a crazy huge mess
!
and that would be a crazy huge mess
!
Lupin
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It takes a lot of tannins to lower the pH to neutral side assuming the KH is high. Then again, pH is not something to look out for but the KH.
Beyond my scope - no experience here as to KH, I have dealt with foreign objects in coco fiber before though and after numerous emails back and forth with the folks who produce bed-a-beast and eco-earth I've come to know that the addition of unwanted extras (plastic, metal pieces, unidentifiable garbage) is a battle the processors are always fighting, I've found a lot more garbage in coco fiber as compared to peat over the years, tho it sems to be getting better - or I've just gotten a bit luckier. Always a good plan to do a once over before use regardless.
OK maybe you can help me understand this a bit better lupin. my PH is 7 but I want it around 6.5 or 6.8 since I have south Asian fish. I thought they like soft water but maybe Im not really understanding what the difference between soft water and low Ph is. lol I'll admit to being a aquarium chemical noob.
erv:
erv:
oh thanks Nora, yeah this is supposed to be really good fiber from a sort of local source, but may as well not risk the heavy metal contamination!
Lupin
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I don't think that is an issue. You're fine without having to add peat, coco fiber, etc.OK maybe you can help me understand this a bit better lupin. my PH is 7 but I want it around 6.5 or 6.8 since I have south Asian fish. I thought they like soft water but maybe Im not really understanding what the difference between soft water and low Ph is. lol I'll admit to being a aquarium chemical noob.