Ph 5!

[Mystil]

Hello Guys
I have a water quality of 5, which is acidic in my tank at the moment.
I have used a liquid test kit.
I think it is the bogwood that I have in the tank for the bristlenoses that is causing the Ph to change.

I would have though 5 would be very bad for the fish and shrimp I have in there.

My tap water is 7.5.

I cannot get rid of the bogwood but what about using peat..will this work in bringing the PH up to 7?
Or will it make things worse?
Thanks

 

[Truck]

ouch! isnt that the same as ethnoic acid(vinegar)

 

[Mystil]

Yes I know how bad. I have been doing water changes pretty much every day.
I am worried as all my fish are in there...

 

[Mystil]

Should I add the Peat to up the PH?
I have taken out the biggest bit of bogwood as that I think is the cause.

 

[Tolak]

Peat will lower the pH. What is the kH & gH? I would pull out the wood.

 

[petertr]

Sounds like really low hardness is meaning you have nothing to buffer the pH with.

Maybe a small amount of crushed coral would help.

 

[Mystil]

Have added crush coral with no effect last week. Maybe oyster shell may have a more pronouced effect?

Im abit dense you are all right the Peat is a crap idea....I was in such a panic!

As a last resort I have removed the bogwood from the tank.

Did a large water change to bring the PH back up and it is now around 6.5.

I could not get hold of GH or KH liquid tests...used test strips as a last resort and...

GH-around the <3od to >6od
KH- 0-3!

 

[petertr]

Yeh, I thought you're hardness would be very low. The lower it is, the less "acid" you need to add to lower the pH.


Crushed Coral will help - but perhaps coral sand as a substrate would work for you?

 

[WILDER]

You won't be able to do large water changes if there a big difference from tap water to tank water ph.