I've got some shrimp coming in a couple of weeks that supposedly require a higher pH (8.0-8.2) to thrive, and so I'm faced with the task of converting my free 20L tank with Soil-Master-Select to this type of environment. I've always aimed at lower pH's so I'm unsure what the easiest way to do this is.
My water from tap runs pH 7.4-7.6 and 3-4 degrees KH. I'm figuring on using crushed coral, in a mesh bag, under 3M ColorQuartz, but I don't know how much coral I'll need to put in.
Any advice?
Using Crushed Coral -- Advice Needed...
So, if I did water changes, I'd have to either do really small amounts, or age the water in a bucket with more coral before adding, right? Does using coral have a maximum pH, so if I slack on a water change will it gradually push up to 8.8 pH? Or, will it hover around a particular level?
How much have you used to notice a small effect?
How much have you used to notice a small effect?
I usually just toss a handful or few into a filter basket and let it go, since I do weekly changes and I dont keep any fish that MUST have hard water, I dont test hard to keep track of PH swings etc..
What shrimp are you getting the mandate hard water?
What shrimp are you getting the mandate hard water?
The other Jeff
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
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you can also use baking soda as a PH booster (Sodium Bicarbonate) IIRC.
Baking soda will raise ALK, and may also raise pH, depending on alk levels.
Borax will raise pH, without raising ALK.
Soda ash or washing soda will raise both.
pulled from some site on the web.
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_adjusting_pH.php
Baking soda will raise ALK, and may also raise pH, depending on alk levels.
Borax will raise pH, without raising ALK.
Soda ash or washing soda will raise both.
pulled from some site on the web.
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_adjusting_pH.php
The other Jeff
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
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Ltrepeter2000
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if I am not mistaken the baking soda acts as a ph buffer Kris. It helps to maintain the high pH once you have set up the tank and have the desired rise from the crushed coral.
Robert Peterson
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Cristy Keister
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I have used crushed coral (aragonite) in my filter when my kh dropped to 0 and the ph to <6.0. My tap water is the same ph/kh as yours. I used the aragonite in combination with CO2, so I'm sure it dissolved more quickly than it would without CO2. I would just put in about 2 cups in a filter bag. I don't have the exact numbers, but it raised the kh to about 7-8, and the ph only to about 7.0 (again, with CO2). When you put the aragonite in the filter, I don't think it takes much to alter the chemistry.
