Driftwood/pH Question

[jtanw]

Hello, I wouldn't normally post this sort of thing but I couldn't find an answer on the internet. I'm aware that the tannins from driftwood will lower an aquarium's pH, but will the pH still be lowered if I add the driftwood AFTER boiling it? Thank you!

 

[kno4te]

If there’s no tannins in the tank then won’t lower the pH. The tannic acid is what tannins are and will reduce the pH if they are present.

 

[tlindsey]

I agree with kno4te and like to add it will also depend on the ph of the tap water . Also how much driftwood you add. Btw the driftwood will still release tannins even after boiling it.

 

[JK47]

I agree with kno4te and like to add it will also depend on the ph of the tap water . Also how much driftwood you add. Btw the driftwood will still release tannins even after boiling it.

^ 104% this. The overall hardness of ones water plays a significantly larger role in this. Unless one has very low pH or minimal buffering capacity most wood won’t make any difference at all (aside from visually).

 

[duanes]

Agree with the above comments, its all about buffering capacity.
If the alkalinity of your tap water is high (eg 100ppm or above), some drift wood and tannic acid, would probably not drop pH in any significant way.
But if your alkalinity is 20ppm or lower, that'd be a different story.
Or if you have a crushed coral substrate (aragonite) the coral will constantly neutralize the acids,(from the wood and fish urine) just like a high alkalinity does.
When you titrate water to find your alkalinity number, you gradually add a weak acid until the water stops neutralizing the acid. The color changes when it reaches equilibrium, and can no longer buffer the acid that is being added.

 

[jtanw]

kno4te tlindsey JK47 duanes

Thank you all for your replies. My tap water is 7.6 pH, 100 ppm alkalinity, and 133 mg/l of CaCO3. I'm looking for a way to bring the pH down to between 6.0 and 7.0 without creating a blackwater aquarium.

 

[tlindsey]

kno4te tlindsey JK47 duanes

Thank you all for your replies. My tap water is 7.6 pH, 100 ppm alkalinity, and 133 mg/l of CaCO3. I'm looking for a way to bring the pH down to between 6.0 and 7.0 without creating a blackwater aquarium.

R/O osmosis probably would be the best option.

 

[jtanw]

R/O osmosis probably would be the best option.

Got it. I was hoping that there would be a more permanent solution, but oh well. Do you know (or have a source that tells you) what the various ratios of R/O water to regular water is in order to create the desired hardness?

 

[tlindsey]

Got it. I was hoping that there would be a more permanent solution, but oh well. Do you know (or have a source that tells you) what the various ratios of R/O water to regular water is in order to create the desired hardness?

Tbh I don't but hopefully someone will chime in with info.