Buffering high pH, low hardness water

blixem · 09-20-2005, 10:32 PM

Well, I've given in, and think I'm going to try my first african rift lake tank. I'm well versed in S. American's so I know how to get my tap water down to 6.5pH and low hardness, but I have no clue how I'm going to bring my tap water to rift lake parameters.

Currently out of my tap I have ~8ph water (settles after a day to ~7.5) and a hardness of <2 degrees both GH and KH.

The trick of this is I want a way that I can get the water to 8-8.5pH and bring up the hardness ~15 degrees, w/o having to add chems daily/weekly. I don't mind adding some to the water at a water change, but I want to find a way to setup the tank so that aside from the water change I don't have to keep adding salt/chems or whatever.

I'm curious if anyone has water close to my parameters, and what does just using crushed coral as a substrate bring your parameters up to?

IloveCichlids · 09-21-2005, 12:13 AM

You can used crushed coral, limestone deco rocks such as Texas "Holey" Rock, or there are some other buffering substrates out there. Crushed coral will bring your water into the 8 pH range. As far as the hardness you can use a Cichlid Essential or African rift lake salt. Use according to manufacturer specs, and should only need to be used in events of water changes. Some one else might have better ideas on the hardness.

IloveCichlids · 09-21-2005, 12:14 AM

Also beware that using lighter colored substrates can and will bleach the color of your africans. I have a Eureka in a 55 with white sand after taking him out of my 120 with Tahitian moon sand (black, non buffering) and I can see a huge difference.

blixem · 09-21-2005, 10:30 AM

Thanks, I think I'm going to go with a dark substrate and suppliment the tanks with a lot of base rock. Since I'm going to be doing a Lake Tang setup I hear that they like higher pH than Malawi, so I can easily bring my pH up to 8.5-9.0 and keep happy fish.

**Damon** · 09-21-2005, 10:37 AM

Baking Soda will stabalise/raise your KH which would keep your taps PH from lowering. All you should need but a good base rock would be even better in addition to baking soda.

IloveCichlids · 09-21-2005, 12:11 PM

I have "Holey" rock with sand and argonite as my substrate in my Tang. 55. Works very well keeping the pH up in the higher 8's. I have two small pieces of "Holey" rock with Tahitian Moon sand in my Malawi 120 and it keeps the pH right at about 8.2-8.4
What type of fish are you thinking about putting in you Tang. tank?

IloveCichlids · 09-21-2005, 12:13 PM

They also make a special supplement for Tang. tanks that has essential nutrients and what not in the mix. I have not used it and do not have a problem whatsoever.

09-20-2005, 10:32 PM	#1
blixem Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Athens, GA Age: 33 Posts: 145	Buffering high pH, low hardness water Well, I've given in, and think I'm going to try my first african rift lake tank. I'm well versed in S. American's so I know how to get my tap water down to 6.5pH and low hardness, but I have no clue how I'm going to bring my tap water to rift lake parameters. Currently out of my tap I have ~8ph water (settles after a day to ~7.5) and a hardness of <2 degrees both GH and KH. The trick of this is I want a way that I can get the water to 8-8.5pH and bring up the hardness ~15 degrees, w/o having to add chems daily/weekly. I don't mind adding some to the water at a water change, but I want to find a way to setup the tank so that aside from the water change I don't have to keep adding salt/chems or whatever. I'm curious if anyone has water close to my parameters, and what does just using crushed coral as a substrate bring your parameters up to?

09-21-2005, 12:13 AM	#2
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	You can used crushed coral, limestone deco rocks such as Texas "Holey" Rock, or there are some other buffering substrates out there. Crushed coral will bring your water into the 8 pH range. As far as the hardness you can use a Cichlid Essential or African rift lake salt. Use according to manufacturer specs, and should only need to be used in events of water changes. Some one else might have better ideas on the hardness. __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

09-21-2005, 12:14 AM	#3
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	Also beware that using lighter colored substrates can and will bleach the color of your africans. I have a Eureka in a 55 with white sand after taking him out of my 120 with Tahitian moon sand (black, non buffering) and I can see a huge difference. __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

09-21-2005, 10:37 AM	#5
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Baking Soda will stabalise/raise your KH which would keep your taps PH from lowering. All you should need but a good base rock would be even better in addition to baking soda. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

09-21-2005, 12:11 PM	#6
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	I have "Holey" rock with sand and argonite as my substrate in my Tang. 55. Works very well keeping the pH up in the higher 8's. I have two small pieces of "Holey" rock with Tahitian Moon sand in my Malawi 120 and it keeps the pH right at about 8.2-8.4 What type of fish are you thinking about putting in you Tang. tank? __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

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09-21-2005, 10:30 AM	#4
blixem Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Athens, GA Age: 33 Posts: 145	Thanks, I think I'm going to go with a dark substrate and suppliment the tanks with a lot of base rock. Since I'm going to be doing a Lake Tang setup I hear that they like higher pH than Malawi, so I can easily bring my pH up to 8.5-9.0 and keep happy fish.

09-21-2005, 12:13 PM	#7
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	They also make a special supplement for Tang. tanks that has essential nutrients and what not in the mix. I have not used it and do not have a problem whatsoever. __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

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