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Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:27 am

I noticed some melt with the new stem plants in the new setup and so I tested my water and found that the PH was way down below 5.5 when my tap water is around 7.3. Did a little research on this stuff and the substrate causes the Ph to crash initially. It takes all the bicarbonates out of the water. I was wondering if anyone else had seen this. Franny, it might be your perfect Apisto substrate since it causes such a low Ph.

Thanks
Rob

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:38 am

Hey man - it was looking pretty when we left. That's all that matters

Post by **krisw** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:42 am

I've never experienced any drops that drastic. It's worth noting that you did add Peat underneath yours, which probably dropped it even lower.

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:47 am

Thats true but that little peat isnt going to drop it below six. At least I have never had it drop that much before so probably a combination of things.

Jeff120 · Post by **Jeff120** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:01 pm

Yes I have heard this as well, i have never used it on a tank of my own so I cant really help. Frequent water changes will help

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:46 pm

I actually have a bottle of bicarbonate which I have started dosing as well to allow the substrate to reach saturation. Read on a forum that it expedites the tank stabilizing.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:42 pm

A pH of 5.5 shouldn't melt the plants. Aquasoil would have dropped the pH by just as much. Could it be something else? Chlorine perhaps?

Ghazanfar Ghori · Post by **Ghazanfar Ghori** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:45 pm

Maybe it was the boiling hot water followed by the freezing cold water.

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:52 pm

I am not as concerned about the melting plants as I seem to have caught it in time, Ghaz is probably right about the reason for the plants. I was just suprised that the Ph crashed that much from the substrate and as for Aquasoil, its another substrate that I havent tried either but will keep in mind

Jeff120 · Post by **Jeff120** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:07 pm

AWWWW yeah I forgot about that!! Nearly boiling water followed by freezing cold may have done it!

Ghazanfar Ghori wrote:Maybe it was the boiling hot water followed by the freezing cold water.

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