vindy500 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 My ph levels are reading around 7.6, this is as high as my test kit goes so who knows if thats where it actually is, my substrate is daltons aquatic mix and then stones whch the packet said was suitable for aquariums which i got from bunnings down the same isle as the mix, ive poured malt vinegar over these and over the rocks i have in my tank and no reaction... i have a couple of bits of driftwood and even have a a stocking with 250g of peat in the trickle filter, any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I gather this is one of the reasons they say Palmy water isn't good for fish? What are the pH readings from the source (I assume you are using tap water)? If the fish are happy though I wouldn't worry about it. Better to have a wrong but stable pH than one that fluctuates as you try to drop it to the "correct" level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 what fish do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindy500 Posted November 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 thanks, tap water is also high, although it didnt use to be about 2 months ago... shouldnt my peat drop it though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Why do you need to adjust the pH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I think it takes quite a bit of peat to have an effect and it depends on buffering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 My readings are very similar, I also use Daltons Aquatics Mix, I have a high range test and it reads about 7.8ph I live in Chch though, they guy in redwood aquatics said that that was the reason that I have terrible hair algae and can only grow vallesneria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlantis Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 If adding malt vinegar (acetic acid) does not reduce your pH, then either the test kit reagent chemistry is faulty or the water is being bufferd by carbonates or bicarbonates. Again my recommendation as a water chemist is to get a decent pH meter (LaMotte Tracer or equiv) and calibrate with pH buffer solution then look for pH variations as you slowly introduce dechlorinated tap water (for fresh water aquaria) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 If adding malt vinegar (acetic acid) does not reduce your pH, then either the test kit reagent chemistry is faulty or the water is being bufferd by carbonates or bicarbonates. He didnt add malt vinegar to his water, he just poured it over the rocks before he used them to see if they would be aquarium safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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