Best way to create Amazon Biotope considering my tap water?

[Abyss]

I've always kept Malawi Cichlids in the past. My water has a PH of 7.5 out of the tap which is fine for tank breds Malawis.

However, I am now moving over to Gulper Catfish which are wild caught.

All info suggests PH of up to 7.

What is best for me...

1. Don't mess with PH. STABILITY is the best thing, not the perfect PH.

2. Don't mess with PH but put plenty of wood in the tank. Don't add anything during water change.

3. Use Peat Moss in the filter - what about water changes? Water with a PH of 7.5 will be going in every week (about 25%?).

4. Use commercial Blackwater extract. Expensive though. Some people say it is as good as snake oil.

Tank will be about 360L, and will have 1 (maybe 2 if I can afford) Gulper Cats in.

I'm a bit worried about it because the fish are wild caught, but I have always lived by the mantra that stability is the key, not the perfect PH.

Cheers.

 

[SimonL]

I'd just add wood to the tank, don't think you'll have to worry much. I've seen em kept in much less "ideal" tanks.

 

[Abyss]

Yeah, for sure.

Does wood dramatically affect the PH?

 

[[enjoyable_attempt]]

Yeah, for sure.

Does wood dramatically affect the PH?

Depending on how much you put in there, it usually works pretty well. My buddy does discus and has tons of wood in his tank, his pH is 7.2 out of the tap, and in a few days time, he said its been at 5.5-6.0


Also there is a really good recepie for home made black water on here somewhere. They used it for pbass and had great results. I'm going to see if I can dig that up.

Found it.
Take a look at this.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273842&highlight=blackwater

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

dont mess with the pH almost all fish can handle your pH but only as long as it remains stable. putting a ton of almond leaves or peat moss in and droping the pH to say 5.5 will put your fish through tremendous stress every water change as your ph will bump up everytime and then drop over the next few days

IMO dont mess with it unless you have extremly sensitive(and/or wildcaught) fish

 

[jclyde13]

dont mess with the pH almost all fish can handle your pH but only as long as it remains stable. putting a ton of almond leaves or peat moss in and droping the pH to say 5.5 will put your fish through tremendous stress every water change as your ph will bump up everytime and then drop over the next few days

IMO dont mess with it unless you have extremly sensitive(and/or wildcaught) fish

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Oh jeez, I should take my driftwood out of the tank with my Apple Snails

Anywho, like previously stated...driftwood, and/or blackwater extract.

 

[Abyss]

I agree with the stability.

My Gulpers will be wild caught but I read they are not sensitive so it is a bit of a toss up whether to mess or not.

My head says don't mess with it and just stick with what I have. A few bits of wood will help, but I won't do anything else.