sea shells, lime stone or crushed coral??

[whodini]

generaly my city water is 6.5-6.8ph and very soft, so my tanks are used to it.but rarely test the tap water so was testing tank water today after i did a large water change two days ago and my tank water is 5.5 !!!!!! so what the hell!!!! test my tap water and sure enough it's 5.5 rrrrrggghhh so here's my question
sea shells , lime stone or crushed coral ?? i've never used either one of them , don't like the swings ph powder buffers do , knowing that my problem is really my GH
so whats the best ? (wanting to slooooooowwly rise my GH/KH ), how much to use per gal to start with and then add how much, how often to rise my GH/KH up to higher points but still keeping it soft water

 

[cougar579]

How many gallons? I would used crushed coral, say a cup or two thrown in a stocking. Put it in your filter if possible a sump would be great. Give it a week then re-test.

 

[whodini]

all my tanks (look in my signature) thanks for your help

 

[Ash]

I dont know but I dont think I would use crushed coral if you are using it as your bottom.. maybe sand? and some stone/rock decors.. seashells work I did that before, but it just didnt look right in my tank.

 

[whodini]

90G=6 silver dollars, 2 are 6 yrs old &4 are 4yrs!,2 4 yrs pictus catfish &4yrsWhodini, american freshwater Eel (natural river pebble 4 substrate)
60gal=4yrswhodini's twin eel Zippy, gimpy GF(white Quatz gravel)
45 octagon =Kaily a 18 yrs old calico goldfish(3mm gavel)
20gal planted w/ 1yrs 2zebra danio's ,3 white cload minnows& a (just resent addition)weather loach (natural river pea&sand gravel)
15gal lightly planted= 1+yrs4 black skirt tetra,4 serpia tetra's,2 tiny snails &kuhli loach (flora base substrate)

is what i have & i want to acheive soft 6.0-6.5 and be able to keep it there but basically my water is sooo soft if i use sodium bicarbanate i can get my desired ph too fast and then within a couple days its back down 5.6-5.8 being on the north west coast we just went a month of record days of straight rain and my water comes from the capalano river. i'm sure my fish can be able to handle the ph slight swing as most of my fish i've had years,and are used to the water here , but mainly i'm consurned about my GH/KH( using hagen brand drops, my tap and tank water's are the same GH=first drop clear no colour add second drop light light blue so it would be under40, KH one drop yellow so it would be 10) this GH/KH test is the same as testing it a few months ago so i would say that it's consistant.
should i just add a small amount crushed coral/limestone mix in a stocking to my filters?

 

[whodini]

now what about sea salt, very small amounts added to tub to my desiered hardness, lower the ph with sodium bicarbnate, retest 20 some minutes later if alls good ,then slowly pump tub water into tank?

 

[DeLgAdO]

i would use aragonite sand

 

[guppy]

I would also call your local water works and find out why the radical change.