peat moss to lower pH

Discussion in 'General Aquatic Talk' started by Mr_G, May 25, 2018.

  1. Mr_G
    Offline

    Mr_G Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    46
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Pretoria
    Howzit guys

    Who has used Peat moss to lower there pH? I'm at 7.4/7.6 pH and want to drop to 6.5pH.

    How much peat moss did you use ratio per tank capacity?

    How did you add it to your filter?

    What type of peat moss didi you use?

    How did you pre-treat the moss before adding to tank?

    Thank you
     
  2. TankMaster
    Offline

    TankMaster Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2010
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Durban
    Is there a reason you want to drop your pH?

    Also let us know if this tank is planted/display tank.



    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
     
  3. Mr_G
    Offline

    Mr_G Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    46
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Pretoria
    Its a planted tank display tank.
    Ive read that at a pH of 6.5. Dont know what the correct words is but all the elements in fertilizers is best made available to plants at 6.5ph, iys best absorbed by plants at that pH.
    As to say ive had better plant growth when my pH where lower but i just did a water change once a year. Now i stock more fish so do every second week a wc.
    The only thing about peat moss that it colours your water to light brown or tea colour and that is going to influence available light in the tank.
    Dont want to use chemicals as i heard it drops the pH quick and it csn bounce back up again that can cause fish death in the tank
     
  4. TankMaster
    Offline

    TankMaster Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2010
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Durban
    I'm not sure about the pH theory but, if you want to lower pH, why not just dose CO2? ....even DIY CO2

    Just remember that if your water is hard, there's no point in trying to buffer it. You'll need RO water to get it to where you need.

    If your parameters are stable, then don't fiddle with pH.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
     
  5. Hendre
    Offline

    Hendre Plant menace

    • APSA Member
    77%
    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    Messages:
    1,125
    Likes Received:
    308
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Cape town
    You can mix RO water to lower the hardness and pH a bit, but a stable tank is far more important than a perfect but unstable one. Every plant likes a different pH so keeping it regular is much better :)
     
    TankMaster likes this.

Share This Page