Setting Up A Sa Biotope

[LolaLouie]

Hi all,

I'm making my tank into a Blackwater Creek Biotope for SA fish. My pH is currently 7.8 and I want it to be 6.5-7. My gH is 19 and I'm aiming for a mximum of 10. I have bought peat... does anyone have any advice on how best to use it?? Also are there any other ways to lower pH and hardness other that the usual bogwood etc?

Any advice on setting up a SA biotope would be really appreciated

I have:

6 Tetras
2 Bolivian Rams
2 German Rams
1 L168 Pleco
4 Cockatoo Cichlids (1M 3F)
2 Angelfish
6 Corys
2 Ottos

Thanks!

 

[Colin_T]

The easiest way to use peat is to put it in a fine mesh bag or stocking and have that in a filter. It can be replaced every month or so if you want. Some types of peat will work for longer than others so replace it when the PH no longer gets lower.

You can also use sodium biphosphate to lower the PH
Reverse Osmosis (R/O) units can be used to reduce the hardness of the water but they are inefficient and waste a lot of water.

Unless you are keeping wild caught fish I wouldn't worry too much about the PH & hardness.

A South American biotope can be achieved with pieces of driftwood and a few river rocks. For the cichlids you can make up caves from rocks or use half flower pots on their side. You can have a few plants in there too, swordplants etc.