How to lower gH

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mjime714

mjime714

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2005
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My tap water has a high gH. The kH and pH is right where it should be for my African tank. How can I lower the gH in my tank without effecting the pH and kH, if at all possible.

I am running a wet/dry with 3 gal of bioballs and a Fluval canister on my 60gal.

Thanks for the help.

Mike
 
Vitaliy said:
Peat will reduce your gH but keep in mind that it will also lower your pH and effecting kH.
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Peat will also tea your water right? I kinda like the clear water look.

Anyone try Water Softeing Pillows? I read in this article that they will reduce gH and not effect kH and pH. Anyone with real world experience?
 
DeLgAdO said:
you dont need to lower the GH of an african tank

them africans love hard water :grinyes:
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Oh I totally agree, but what about the plants? I have some plants in there as well and I am not sure if how they react to high gH levels. I have some anubias, java ferns, vals and african swords.
 
Howdy,

I'd say anubias, java fern and vallisneria are fine. They're as hardy as it gets. I am not sure what African swords are ... do you know it in Latin?

HarleyK
 
HarleyK said:
Howdy,

I'd say anubias, java fern and vallisneria are fine. They're as hardy as it gets. I am not sure what African swords are ... do you know it in Latin?

HarleyK
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OOPS.. my bad. Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus). That plant is probably doing the best out of all my plants from what I can see. It is growing like crazy, but the others, I dont know if they are just slow growers, but they dont seem as healthy as the sword.

All my params are good except for the high gH so I was thinking I may try to lower that to see how the tank does.

All fish are doing well and are active and eatting well.
 
All right :D

Anubias grow really slow. The Java fern I had wasn't fast-growing, either, but I've heard of some strains that actually grow fast?! The fact that vallisneria don't grow makes me wonder what your iron levels are. If their leaves are glassy and transparent and not really bright green, then you may have to use some liquid fertilizer. Since your sword is doing well, I wouldn't really mess with gH ... try fertilizer first. Depending on how old your light bulbs are, you may want to get new ones. After about a year, the spectrum changes and less and less supports healthy photosynthesis.

Good luck,

HarleyK
 
Awesome!! Thanks for the info. Ill take a closer look at my vals. and head to the LFS.
 
I want to lower my gH too for Rams. Any suggestions?
 
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