New Tank Set Up

[Welwyncorydoras]

Hi there,

I have just bought a new tank and I am trying to set it up. I have already got a tank, but I am having ph problems.

My water values in my existing tank as follow:

PH 7.6
GH 10
KH 7
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

My question is I would like to set up my new tank with the PH (6.8-7.0)?
What I need to do.

I was advice to use RO water and mix a percentage of this water with the tap water, someone else told me that the RO water copies the water ph of the water you mix with.
Help...............!!!
I do not know what realy to do. But some solution must exist because the fish shop in my area keep discus and say that the water that the discus are kept inis is 6.8.

Futher I just bought some gravel for the tank and somebodyelse told me that this can alter the ph.He suggested to use silicon sand or none at all.

Where you can buy this sort od sand if does exist.

I would like to use some sort of sand,so that keep some plant in the aquarium and look pretty

Thank for your help

 

[SombreroBanana]

Well you shouldn't mess with the pH at all. Basically any fish can deal with any pH. But if you really have to, go to a garden store or something and buy ORGANIC peat. Put some of it in a piece of pantyhose and stick that in your filter.

 

[Aquascaper]

Silica sand (playsand) is inert and is what most people use.

As well as putting peat in your filtration you will find that bogwood in the tank will lower pH.

What is the reason for wanting a particular pH? The vast majority of fish will live in a wide range of pH, only requiring specific ranges for breeding/spawning, so as long as they are acclimatised properly there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Welwyncorydoras]

I would like to breed some species of corydoras and their requirement is soft or neutral water.
Thanks for your help

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I would like to breed some species of corydoras and their requirement is soft or neutral water.
Thanks for your help

Then you need to test the KH/GH values of your tap water, this will determine what type of fish you can/can not keep...IE; i have very soft water from my water supplier so keep fish that can tolerate that range.
If you are focused on breeding, of any degree, then i would continue to advise on choosing fish to do so that prefer the water comes out of your taps, paying too much attention to your PH can and probably will get you in all sorts of issues.

Terry.

 

[dannybgoode]

'Soft' water is nothing to do with the pH - its to do with the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water.

Guessing that your username that you are in Welwyn or WGC then you have very hard water...

Cheers

Danny B