water problem

[jonahonah]

Im going to be living in a an area with soft water and low ph whats the best and easiest way to keep the tank from crashing?

 

[Bderick67]

What makes you think you tank will crash? Proper maintainence, including 30% weekly water changes, not overstocking and don't overfeed. This will keep your tank from crashing.

 

[me_wee_todded]

that will keep your tank from crashing

 

[ChileRelleno]

Im going to be living in a an area with soft water and low ph whats the best and easiest way to keep the tank from crashing?

You mean both low in GH/pH? That may not be bad necessarily, unless your keeping Africans and wish to closely simulate natural conditions...
KH is your real concern.

I agree with what was advised above, but that is just normal maintenance for average water chemistry...
Not water with a extreme low range in KH/pH...

Hard to answer that question without knowing the actual numbers, primarily for KH & PH, but might as well throw in GH.
Your KH will be the most important factor as this is your buffering capability.
Buffering is the ability to asorb acids (NO3(nitrate)) which if accumulated would lower your pH. Your KH should ideally be above 4.-4.5'dKH.

Knowing these numbers will determine if your tank is at risk for a actual crash.

Get to know your water chemistry and how it works, http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

There are various ways to deal with KH below 4'dKH.
Sometimes normal maintenace is all that is needed, keeping NO3 below 20ppm, or the use of crushed corals/shell/limestone, the use of phosphate buffers and etc.

Get those numbers first, get to know how your waters pH reacts to normal maintenance, understand water chemistry and most of all realize that messing with it is very tricky sometimes and can lead to a wild rollercoaster ride of pH swimgs if not careful/methodical.

 

[saltydog_1]

i agree if it is lower than you are comfortable with crushed coral is probably your best bet just remember stable water chemistry even if it is not ideal is better than constantly messing with it and having it fluctuate wildly

 

[gomezladdams]

Plan on keeping soft water fish

 

[ChileRelleno]

Plan on keeping soft water fish

Or if his chemistry is prone to significant drops/crashes he can plan on keeping corpses

My tap water is 7.pH, 5'dGH & <1'-1'dKH...
Untreated my low-nonexistent KH means rapid drops in pH with a week.
I maintain CC in all my filters and use 'Proper pH 7.0', this combo keeps my tanks pH levels at a stable 7.pH and my KH at 2-3'dKH.

I've found that I can do up to aprox 50% PWC without 'Proper Ph' and still maintain my KH just from the CC's influence.