cheap way to soften hard water

[Grandmastr]

college student on a strict budget for the next month

got a big college payment coming up , xmas gifts, car payment,insurance payment,girlfriend


so is there any kind of like peat stuff or anything like stores sell cheap than buyin something from the lfs that is $$$

i want to get my ph low as possible like around 5-6.5

tryin to breed the blue ram

 

[CHINABOY1021]

many dwarf cichlid breeders and keepers use dried oak leaves. in the filter or as substrate for the natural look. it works the same as peat.

it'll help to give your current water parameters. if you hardness is low enough, you can drop the ph using co2 too. also peat could be bought at garden stores.

 

[Kagh't]

gallons of elodea densa and crispa, along with peat.
the elodea absorbs a hell of a lot of the carbonate hardness in the water, reducing the buffering potential of the water, then the peat can jump in and do it's thang.