PH and rocks

fishbguy · 03-23-2007, 04:30 AM

I've read that the PH can be affected by putting dead coral in the tank. I was wondering if the PH will also be affected if you add regular rocks or lava rocks to the tank. same thing with shells. I found alot of cool chells in cancun and want to add them to my tank but i am not sure if they will effect the water quality. also, i have 2 SMALL pieces of dead coral. they are both about 2 inches in diameter. if i added them to a 16 gallon, would they effect to PH too much or would it be less of a hassle for me to just leave them out. Thanks,
Andrew

**TheOldSalt** · 03-23-2007, 09:15 AM

If you make your water changes, then some shells and corals aren't going to have any noteworthy impact. Lava is a crapshoot, though, since lava is highly variable and you never know what it's going to do.

redpaulhus · 03-23-2007, 11:34 AM

This is one of the few times I'm going to disagree with TOS.

At least in my area, a few seashells or tufa rock will shoot the pH way up (we have pretty soft water around here - in most of my tanks, the pH would drop below 6 if I didn't keep up with water changes and add some buffer)

At least once a month I get customers in the store who are having problems with a pH of around 8.0 -- even though local tap water runs about 7.0 - and they are alledgedly keeping up with their water changes.

First question I ask when faced with high pH in the Boston area is always - "any seashells/coral/tufa rock ?" and the answer is generally "yes".

Of course, if you really really keep up with water changes, you might not see a difference -- I actually keep a box filter filled with crushed coral in my 125g tank and it doesn't seem to move my pH at all - but I do alot of water changes on that tank.
So I guess I don't disagree with TOS so much as suspect that it depends on a) your water chemistry and b) your water change routine.

If the tank contains livebearers, or other fish that like harder water - go for it. If the tank contains soft water fish, I'd probably skip it.

fishbguy · 03-23-2007, 01:08 PM

so lets say that i am going to put some rams in it...i should skip out on the shells, right? but others, like african cichlids, would be OK as would guppies, mollies, and swordtails.

**TheOldSalt** · 03-24-2007, 08:02 AM

Yes, that's pretty much right.

I guess redpaulhus is right. My answer was too dependent upon unknown variables. It happens sometimes.

03-23-2007, 04:30 AM	#1
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,890	PH and rocks I've read that the PH can be affected by putting dead coral in the tank. I was wondering if the PH will also be affected if you add regular rocks or lava rocks to the tank. same thing with shells. I found alot of cool chells in cancun and want to add them to my tank but i am not sure if they will effect the water quality. also, i have 2 SMALL pieces of dead coral. they are both about 2 inches in diameter. if i added them to a 16 gallon, would they effect to PH too much or would it be less of a hassle for me to just leave them out. Thanks, Andrew __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

03-23-2007, 01:08 PM	#4
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,890	so lets say that i am going to put some rams in it...i should skip out on the shells, right? but others, like african cichlids, would be OK as would guppies, mollies, and swordtails. __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

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03-23-2007, 09:15 AM	#2
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,360	If you make your water changes, then some shells and corals aren't going to have any noteworthy impact. Lava is a crapshoot, though, since lava is highly variable and you never know what it's going to do.

03-23-2007, 11:34 AM	#3
redpaulhus fishgeek Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boston Age: 38 Posts: 456	This is one of the few times I'm going to disagree with TOS. At least in my area, a few seashells or tufa rock will shoot the pH way up (we have pretty soft water around here - in most of my tanks, the pH would drop below 6 if I didn't keep up with water changes and add some buffer) At least once a month I get customers in the store who are having problems with a pH of around 8.0 -- even though local tap water runs about 7.0 - and they are alledgedly keeping up with their water changes. First question I ask when faced with high pH in the Boston area is always - "any seashells/coral/tufa rock ?" and the answer is generally "yes". Of course, if you really really keep up with water changes, you might not see a difference -- I actually keep a box filter filled with crushed coral in my 125g tank and it doesn't seem to move my pH at all - but I do alot of water changes on that tank. So I guess I don't disagree with TOS so much as suspect that it depends on a) your water chemistry and b) your water change routine. If the tank contains livebearers, or other fish that like harder water - go for it. If the tank contains soft water fish, I'd probably skip it.

03-24-2007, 08:02 AM	#5
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,360	Yes, that's pretty much right. I guess redpaulhus is right. My answer was too dependent upon unknown variables. It happens sometimes.

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