Add more coral? Ph buffering question

[zanytomato]

Hi guys,

A couple weeks ago I started adding some crushed coral to my filter in my 20g. Finally my ph has stabilized to about 6.7 - 7 (I still have to pre-treat my tap water as its still testing at 5, but I've got a good system down now).

I just tested my hardness and noted that my dKH is only 2 -- that's still pretty low for buffering capacity, isn't it? Should I add more coral? (I've got about a 1/2 cu in there right now.)

Just for the record, I've got 0/0/<5 for NH/NO2/NO3. My dGH is also 2.

Thanks!


-zt.

 

[zanytomato]

Oh, one more thing... when I first got my hardness testing kit, before I put the coral in, the hardness was testing at 0.

 

[James0816]

i do the same with my water before adding it to the tank for my pwc. well water ph is ~6 or below. i use jugs with 1/2 cup of crushed coral and treat with prime. let them sit for a couple of days before i use them. so far has kept my numbers good.

 

[zanytomato]

James, that's great advice... thanks so much!