Water Change

[BigIan]

however afterthe cycleing given his tap ph of 7.6 the tank will probablystableise at around 7.6 and so the bacteria will die off then any way. so hes best keeping the ph above 5.5

 

[Maxta]

Damn, i hope my bacteria arent killed.

And huh about the bogwood? I already had a bit of bogwood in my tank from the start. And today iv just bought another small piece (which is perfect) for my tank. Bogwood is alot better than any man maid stuff.

About to test water again.

 

[Maxta]

pH - 6.4

ammonia - ~0

nitrite - ~2


Added 20 drops of ammonia to bring the levels upto ~2

 

[rdd1952]

The bogwood in your tank is most likely what is bringing your pH down. You may have to look into adding a little crushed coral to your filter to add buffering capacity and keep your pH closer to your tap pH.

 

[Maxta]

The bogwood in your tank is most likely what is bringing your pH down. You may have to look into adding a little crushed coral to your filter to add buffering capacity and keep your pH closer to your tap pH.

Really? Can anyone else confirm this? My dad has bogwood in his 190L downstairs and his pH is around 7.0

I now have 2 bits of bogwood in my tank, and dont want to let them go.

If i had to buy crushed coral, where do i buy it from and what do i do with it? How often do i need it in my tank?

 

[rdd1952]

The effect of bogwood is dependent on the buffering capacity (KH) of your water. If it has a high KH, then the bogwood will have a negligible effect. If your KH is low, then the bogwood could have considerable effect. Take a sample of your tap water to the LFS and ask them to test the KH for you. For confirmaton, just do a search on here or Google it. Here and here are 2 links that will help confirm too.

 

[Maxta]

Thanks

I saw some crushed coral on ebay and it was £15, eek.

 

[rdd1952]

If your local fish store sells marine fish, ask them if they can give you a small amount. You probably only need a teaspoon to a tablespoon full to put in your filter (if it's the HOB cartrdge type). Otherwise, you can just hang some in the tank or put it in with the other media in your canisters..

 

[Maxta]

So what id do is open up my filter and get to the filter cartridge (which are these: http/www.terrificpets.com/pet_supplies/f...ving/13798.asp)

And plonk some crushed coral in there along with the carbon and stuff thats already there. I guess id have to take some carbon out, so how much coral should i put in? Same as you said before, a teaspoon?

PS. My two local stores dont do marine fish.

 

[rdd1952]

The link didn't work but I would say to start with half a teaspoon. It really doesn't take much. Let that run for a week or so and then see what the pH is. If it's dropped quite a bit, add a little more and check again. it will take a little trial and error.

Even if they don't have marine fish, crushed coral is also used by a lot of people that keep cichlids to keep their pH in the high 7s to low 8s that cichlids prefer.

 

[Maxta]

This the stuff im after? http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...-substrates.asp - bottom product. Can this just be used in the filter or could i hide some among the gravel?

So basically the water out of my tap is high (7.6), but when i put it in a tank which has bogwood in the pH will drop quickly (between 6 & 6.6), the crushed coral will counter the bogwood and help raise the pH back up gradually nearer to what comes out of the tap? Kinda cancel each other out.

I was just reading a post on some random forum and a person who was giving advice to someone said eventually the effect of the crushed coral will run out - therefore i guess will need replacing. How long should it be before it needs replacing? The person didnt know that answer unfortunately. Il check P@H again because im going up there on wednesday, and if its reasonably priced il get some, may also buy a KH and GH tester kit.

 

[rdd1952]

I have never heard of that substrate. I don't think tat is what you want. This is what you need. Yes you will hae to replace it after a while but it should last a fairly long time.

 

[Maxta]

Did you look at the bottom product of the link i gave you? Looks the same stuff....although the only difference is that yours seems to say "fine". Same description though.

 

[rdd1952]

Sorry, I didn't read the "Bottom Product". It is the same thing. I doubt it realy matters whether it is fine or not although fine may fit in the filter pack a little better.

 

[Maxta]

Thanks. Il try and get a hold of some and whack some in the filter. Thanks for all of your advise, iv learnt something new today. Il only be getting some if my levels drop down to 0 again or become lower when iv finished cycling.