Lowering PH & Softening water help needed for Chocolate cichlid tank

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Cookie*

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 26, 2010
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Northern NJ
mocoloco.com
I have an established tank that was fish only for a JD which died 10 days ago. As a replacement I bought a Chocolate/Emperor Cichlid thinking it's CA/SA and could deal with the same water conditions as the Dempsey. After more reading I find that the Choco. prefers more acidic/lower ph and softer water.

My ph is kinda high at 7.8. As for the water softening, I bought some TetraAqua Blackwater extract with peat in it. After getting it back to the house I wasn't so sure it was a good idea to be adding chemicals. I also bought API ph down, has anybody used this stuff with good results? Is it something I should be using frequently with water changes to keep the ph lower?

Also the tank is 55 gallons w/2 ac300's, airstone, driftwood, and 6" L91. I believe I read somewhere that driftwood helps lower ph, is that true? I am due for a w/c today as well, which is also why I haven't added the blackwater extract as of yet.

Any info appreciated, thanks in advance. :)
 
I don't do anything to soften my water or lower my pH. I have a bunch of driftwood but it no longer leeches tannins and I do water changes so frequently that it probably wouldn't have a chance to alter my water chemistry anyway.

Most tank-raised cichlids are highly adaptable and as long as your water is stable there shouldn't be an issue. If the fish is eating well, behaving normally, and appears healthy, why change anything? I've had certain fish that were sensitive to my harder water (like Uaru fernandezyepezi) but my chocolate doesn't seem to mind it.

Dumping chemicals in your water is a bad idea, IMO. Your pH could swing wildly all over the place if you didn't keep a close eye on it and mix the chemical just right every time you did a water change. The safest way to alter water parameters is probably with an RO unit, then just figure out which mix gets your water to where you want it. If you ever did decide to soften the water, that's probably the best way. (For instance, some people use 50/50% or 25/75% RO mixes for spawning pairs.)
 
ryansmith83;4357969; said:
I don't do anything to soften my water or lower my pH. I have a bunch of driftwood but it no longer leeches tannins and I do water changes so frequently that it probably wouldn't have a chance to alter my water chemistry anyway.

Most tank-raised cichlids are highly adaptable and as long as your water is stable there shouldn't be an issue. If the fish is eating well, behaving normally, and appears healthy, why change anything? I've had certain fish that were sensitive to my harder water (like Uaru fernandezyepezi) but my chocolate doesn't seem to mind it.

Dumping chemicals in your water is a bad idea, IMO. Your pH could swing wildly all over the place if you didn't keep a close eye on it and mix the chemical just right every time you did a water change. The safest way to alter water parameters is probably with an RO unit, then just figure out which mix gets your water to where you want it. If you ever did decide to soften the water, that's probably the best way. (For instance, some people use 50/50% or 25/75% RO mixes for spawning pairs.)
Click to expand...

Ok, I'm convinced I need not lower my ph dramatically with a few Chocolate owners having higher ph with no problems. I'll still try and lower ph naturally with driftwood, and look into a RO unit. Someone just today was telling me they can be found for $150 on ebay.
 
Cookie*420;4358290; said:
Ok, I'm convinced I need not lower my ph dramatically with a few Chocolate owners having higher ph with no problems. I'll still try and lower ph naturally with driftwood, and look into a RO unit. Someone just today was telling me they can be found for $150 on ebay.
Click to expand...

The only problem is that RO units produce a lot of waste water, something like 3-4 gallons of waste water for every 1 gallon of "pure" water. My water bill is already $75 a month... that would make fish-keeping unaffordable for me, considering the size of my tanks and the fact that I do 50% w/c on them all once a week. :( If you were only dealing with one tank, it may not be so bad. Also, if you have a free water supply like a well, you're all set.
 
Hmmm, 3-4 gallons wasted for every pure gallon made- that doesn't sound so great. And yes, this is the only tank I'm concerned with. I have other tanks, but just a 30 gallon tetra tank and 10 gallon crayfish tank besides the cichlid tank. The cichlid is my only real concern. I might just have to step up my water changes and do my best to maintain the water levels I have. It's also city water, I wish it were a well.
 
There are leaves you can use forgot the name though. Just use driftwood and poopsalot fishes that will lower your ph.
 
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