making soft water

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by demon_surfer
.....with the driftwood, how significantly would a piece lower the ph?
the peat, how would this be used? a bag in the filter? also how much would I need to put in and what type and where could I get it? and again what kind of change could I expect if I used this?....

There is no 'exact' equation on this. It's more like trail and error. You have to experiment some, and that can be the fun part -- not just the finished results!
I had a bit too much peat once in one of my canisters and didn't like the tinting effect. A little coloring or tint is ok with me, but not where the water looks dirty The peat didn't effect the pH much at all..

Hope others can answer your questions in more detail.

 

[tricksterpup]

Ok, Demon,
you want to take a fully clawed cat and hold it in the water for atleast 1 minute. This will atleast help, not make your water softer but your day more interesting. But everyone is correct, best way is to use RO water, peat or driftwood.



jim

 

[yashinfan]

Animal abuse!!! I don't think your hands would survive that, when I was small my cat fell in the bathtub and when I went to rescue it, it cut me up pretty darn bad. I still have scars on my chest!

 

[Turin Turambar]

Originally posted by demon_surfer
with the driftwood, how significantly would a piece lower the ph?

No. Driftwood doesn't do almost anything to the water (it doesn't hurt the water though, contrary - it is favourable!). Only when the water is really hot (boiling point) it releases tannic acids and makes a water brown. That's from my experience - I have a mongrove wood in the tank.

the peat, how would this be used? a bag in the filter? also how much would I need to put in and what type and where could I get it? and again what kind of change could I expect if I used this?

Please read the page someone provided to you about the peat and its usage. I use it in the filter - it makes a water brown for about 5-7 days and aside from that, I didn't notice any other changes in ph/kh.
My KH and GH are favourable, but I'm out of luck with pH - 8.5. Just cannot bring it down! When using yeast CO2 method I lower pH only for 0.5 - pH 8 that is. KH buffer isn't high, in fact it is perfect for stable environment - 3 to 4!.


I remeber reading somewhere that having a heavily planet aquarium can result in a lowered PH can anyone give me any info on that?

Maybe in some HEAVILY planted it is possible (I don't know), but I do have lots of plants and my tank is quite green overall, but no - pH won't go under 8! I was told by Tetra Team to better leave the pH value alone if the fish/plants were doing fine. And they really do, but I thought that 8-8.5 ain't for tetras and rams, but I have no choice - at least they seem not to bother with the pH, so why should I?