Best High PH plants?

T

trybry5

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Oct 15, 2003
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I have two tanks with high PH readings for years. I can't bring the PH down and really don't want to break the tanks down and start over.

What types of plants do well in a low light (for now) and in high PH environment (tank #1 8.2 , Tank #2 between 7.8 to 8.2 ph)?

I also want them to reduce the nitrate levels of #1 40 mq/l and #2 100 mq/l respectively.

Breaking the tanks down is not an option, due to the sentimental value of the life that once lived there.

Tank #1 has the dreaded Malaysian snails and freshwater Amphipods (both doing very well).
Tank #2 has Java Fern babies (that never mature) and Java Moss (mostly), both slow growers and low Nitrate consumers.

I want a fast growing plant, that can tolerate, a high ph environment and low lighting (for now). Thus hopefully reducing the Nitrate levels too.

Does anyone have any ideas or am I asking the impossible?

Thanks
 
most plants can withstand high ph levels if they are offered good amounts of food. Make sure you have less lighting, because photosynthesis makes water very alkaline
 
Plants should not take the place of water changes for nitrates, as fresh water replenishes other things as well.
 
try some algae eaters, like plecos or amamo shrimp. less algae equals less photosynthesis which equals less alkaline water
 
I was not suggesting water changes to change your pH, but rather your nitrates which I believe was what you are trying to do. add plants but do not neglect your water changes.
 
spencerguy1 said:
try some algae eaters, like plecos or amamo shrimp. less algae equals less photosynthesis which equals less alkaline water
Click to expand...

What are you talking about?

Anyways, I have water that varies from about 8.2 to 8.4 or so. Never had issues with any plants that I could directly attribute to pH.

Hygrophila species are good nitrate suckers and with decent light (not much) are pretty quick growers. I recommend wisteria (H. difformis) personally.
 
spencerguy1 said:
try some algae eaters, like plecos or amamo shrimp. less algae equals less photosynthesis which equals less alkaline water
Click to expand...

LOLWUT?

Less algae equals more nutrients for the plants for growth. And, i'm not sure that photosynthesis makes water alkaline (not sure though.). Plants tend to decrease the pH of the water, along with driftwood.
 
I am happy that someone started this thread as I have the same problem.

8.5ph from the faucet after a 36 hr rest. A steady 8.0 ph in my 33g tank.
Add to this, the depth is 22" from the bottom of my light to the substrate. I'm using a t5 ho Current 78 watt light fixture. I think this is low to medium.

From the start I can consistently grow two plants; bronze wendtii and
Echinodorus barthi (red melon sword.) Anything else gets holes and black spots. I have a jajva fern on driftwood about mid tank which grows in volume greatly, but always gets full of black spots and holes.

I use liquid ferts from Seachem. When I use iron or nourish, my water clouds for several days.

I've read countless articles and have spoken with many people and nothing ever changes. Good luck trybry5
 
lmao!

ok.

so plants will reduce nutrients based on growth. growth depends on lights, co2 to some extent, and nutrients. even fast growing stem plants wont reduce your nitrates if they dont have the lghts or co2 to drive the need for nitrates.

that being said, i agree that hygro would be a good choice. usually doesnt need too much light and will grow pretty quick in most conditions. just remember that if the plant is using nitrate that it is also using phosphate, potassium, and other trace nutrients like iron. make sure that the plant has all of those nutrients and the plant will grow the way it should and hopefully keep algae at bay
 
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