New Africans are swimming in low pH

[paulW]

I guess I am going against the grain, but I add a little baking powder with every water change to help buffer the water on the alkaline side. I have been doing this for over 10 years with no ill effects.

I also add a little bit of epson salts and non-iodized salt to bring up the hardness. For awhile, I was using calcium carbonate as well.

 

[worm2925]

i got crushed coral and tufa rock in my African tank and it works great

 

[Options]

I guess I am going against the grain, but I add a little baking powder with every water change to help buffer the water on the alkaline side. I have been doing this for over 10 years with no ill effects.

I also add a little bit of epson salts and non-iodized salt to bring up the hardness. For awhile, I was using calcium carbonate as well.

i use that buffering recipe as well and have never had any problems. My water is very soft and most of my fish are f0 so i like to bump up the parameters to more or less their natural environment. Its not that complicated you just have to adjust it very slowly till you get the readings that you want.

 

[gomezladdams]

Agree with options,the api kit or just the gh/kh/ph tests if thats all you need.