I Need Help With Setting Up Two Aps Filters

[minnnt]

Well, if you are not sure what has dropped the Ph in one of your tanks(presuming it's been the same since the setup of this tank), then you don't really have enough information to judge whether the APS plastic balls do anything.
How long has this tank been setup for?

But 6.6 is not neutral is it?

 

[snazy]

It's not neutral, but let's say something draws your Ph down to 7.0 and then the "anything" acidifies it further to 6.6, why not?

 

[Tolak]

I'm waiting for their reply on this one as well. For the cost I don't see how they could devise a way to make what is essentially hunks of plastic with a lot of surface area do what is stated.

 

[coldcazzie]

When I ordered my aps filter the bioballs came in a plastic bag. No sign on the side saying it did anything to the pH. And it hasn't done anything to the pH. PH depends on your kh, water change routine, substrate, any peat or coral in the filter (which affects the pH indirectly by changing the hardness), bogwood or rocks. I cannot see how the bioballs could possibly keep the pH the same, never mind "absorb and dissolve poisonous ions". Either that's sales tripe or a bad translation imo.

 

[minnnt]

Blimey... Re-Opened

I'm waiting for their reply on this one as well. For the cost I don't see how they could devise a way to make what is essentially hunks of plastic with a lot of surface area do what is stated.

This was my point earlier on.

Maybe the bio balls in the Fluval G6 are impregnated with diamonds and gold aswell then considering their price?

The price is too cheap to have any snazzy technology imo and they would be forever banging on about it.

 

[snazy]

Just to clarify....It's not me that claims these Bio balls keep the Ph at neutral, it is the manufacturer All Pond Solutions.

I still haven't got a reply to my latest e-mail from them. In regards to the balls, I'll leave them in the filter I guess. My two other tanks have Ph 7.6, so it will show up if the magic balls have done anything.

 

[minnnt]

APS aren't the manufacturers... I believe Sun Sun are? APS repackage them and sell them. All of my filters have bio balls in. I'm not removing them as i like them.

 

[snazy]

I know, I just thought it is the same thing under a different name. The Bio balls are cute, I agree

 

[minnnt]

I know, I just thought it is the same thing under a different name. The Bio balls are cute, I agree

I wouldn't go that far...

It's a shame the odd things let them down as i quite like the filter. It is a similar design (although everything is alot cheaper) to TetraTEC and they're packaged up nicely. Flow is a big issue and the equipment is a little plasticky. Price is great though

 

[coldcazzie]

Just to clarify....It's not me that claims these Bio balls keep the Ph at neutral, it is the manufacturer All Pond Solutions.

It's ok, I don't think anyone thought it was you personally suggesting it.

I just can't see how they could possibly have a pH adjuster inherent in the balls. Even the pH adjusters you can buy in store (not that I condone them at all - I don't, I think you should leave your pH as it is and plan around it) work by adjusting your hardness, which leads to different pH levels, and they aren't very accurate at that. And you can't change hardness with anything plastic. I just don't believe it

 

[snazy]

I think you should leave your pH as it is and plan around it

That's the reason I asked. I don't want any chemical water altering staff, to be able to transfer fish between tanks without too much hassle. So I'd prefer to keep it the way it is in the other tanks. I'll set up this tank next weekend and I'll soon find out whether these glorious Ph altering balls will do anything.

Thanks all

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I think you should leave your pH as it is and plan around it

That's the reason I asked. I don't want any chemical water altering staff, to be able to transfer fish between tanks without too much hassle. So I'd prefer to keep it the way it is in the other tanks. I'll set up this tank next weekend and I'll soon find out whether these glorious Ph altering balls will do anything.

Thanks all

Just fill up a bucket today test ph before then add some balls and re test?

 

[snazy]

Just fill up a bucket today test ph before then add some balls and re test?

I don't see how this would be a viable test, but why not.

I just tested the tap water straight from the tap and water from a bottle that has stayed several weeks just in case it matters and both have exactly the same Ph, something like 6.6-6.7.

I have soaked the bio balls in tap water just now, and if nothing else, water turned grey

 

[snazy]

Here we go with the primitive Ph test.

From left to right:

1. Bio balls and tap water
2. Water from one of my tanks which is constant 7.6
3. Tap water that was poured at the same time as the one with the bio balls-slight change, maybe 6.8

And this is in the same order but with white background:

 

[snazy]

I tested the water again this morning and all 3 are at 7.6.
So balls or no bio balls, the Ph of the water from the tap goes from about 6.6 to 7.6 in 12-24 hours.

Just wondering on a side note, how is a raise of Ph from 6.6 to 7.6 explained without any chemicals. Is it that the water suppliear adds CO2 to the tap water that evaporates over time or is there any other reason?