I have a high pH of 8.2 and very hard water and I'd like to lower it in a more natural way. I have heard that peat moss does the trick but I'm not sure whether or not to use it. I don't like the color it turns the water but I do like the effect it has on the water quality. what should I do?
Should I use Peat Moss
- Thread starter Corydoras Keeper
- Start date
I find that peat pellets are much easier to use than peat moss. They don't break down quickly. I just toss them in a mesh bag and throw them in the filter or the tank.
I got my peat pellets from a friend who imports fish. However, you can buy similar ones online: http://www.bigalspets.com/torf-peat-pellets-1l.html
I use peat moss in a mesh bag. I buy a 1cu/ft cube for five dollars at the garden center. I have the last bag for a year now. Just put it in the filter. I have a cheap Topfin 40 I hang on the tank, put the mesh bag in a leave it for about 2 months. It will stain the water with tannins. If you don't like the color you have to run carbon. I would leave the water the natural color the peat produces but it's up to you. I don't run carbon in any of my filters haven't in years. HTH
How many points are you trying to lower ? what are you keeping and what size tank?
I have a 30 gallon tank and am trying to lower it at least down to 7.4. I have a koi angel, 3 cory cats, 3 glass cats, and 1 pictus cat.
Peat bags in the filter will bring in a bit and with some bog wood in the tank but to get it down 12 points you may to mix your water.
The problem with peat and wood for softer water is that it takes a while and your ph may spike with water changes.
Ive tryed in small tanks and its hard to keep it consistent I think your cats will be fine but your angel will need mixed softer water.
I took this mixing guide from http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_109/ro-freshwater.htm
Mixing RO Water with Tap Water
The simplest way to use RO water for softening water and lowering pH is to mix a proportion of tap water and RO together to achieve the desired levels. Reducing gH in this way works very simply. If you mix half tap water and half RO water the resulting gH will be half of the original value. So if the gH of the tap water is 20 and what is needed for the fish tank is a gH of 5, mixing ¾ RO water with ¼ tap water will produce the desired result.
Achieving a lower pH value by mixing tap water and RO is a little more complicated because the kH value also needs to be considered and because pH values are logarithmic a mix of half RO to tap water will not halve the pH. In fact if alkalinity (kH) is high enough, pH may remain at the same level as the tap water.
Trial and error with different mix ratios and repeated testing is probably the simplest way forward with this, but dont add any of your mixes to the tank until you are certain you have a stable pH level.
just regular plant peat? i've always wondered on this. because it contains anti fungles and the like