Hard, Alkaline water, advice quick please!!!!!

[K626]

The water in one of my 55's is too hard and alkaline for discus etc. I'd like to fix this problem. I'm leaving for the lfs here in a few, and any suggestions would help. I already have a good sized peice of driftwood in there, which brought the ph down a bit, but needs more. I'm going crazy trying to fix this.

What should I get to help this problem?

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

You can buy pH down for a quick fix, but for long term you need to add some kind of organic material that breaks down slowly. It's this breakdown process that lowers you pH. The driftwood is already doing it, but you may need to add some peat or similar material to lower it quickly. Don't drop it too fast though, you may shock the discus.

 

[K626]

I don't have any discus in there right now, but want some. I've seen the peat moss for reptiles, would that work? What about the hard water?

 

[Riv D]

Throw some Peat Moss in a nylon bag and throw it in your sump.

 

[K626]

No sump......

 

[Riv D]

...or filter.

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

If you don't have a sump on your 55, you can put a small amount in the aforementioned nylon bag and place it in a compartment on whatever filter you may have.

 

[princess]

get a reverse osmosis unit

 

[K626]

...or filter.

thanks......



Would the peat moss for reptiles work?

 

[K626]

get a reverse osmosis unit

That would be AMAZING. but money is the issue there lol