new to dwarfs

[florida5089]

Hi, I have experience with large south and central cichlids and dipnetting in south florida. I just drained my 180 gallon fresh water tank keeping the established aquarium sand and wood. I know the new tap water is hard but will the established sand lower the ph? Also, if the older wood doesnot leak tannins anymore is it still creating a lower ph for a south american drawf tank. thank you. florida5089.

 

[Hmoobthor]

Hi, I have experience with large south and central cichlids and dipnetting in south florida. I just drained my 180 gallon fresh water tank keeping the established aquarium sand and wood. I know the new tap water is hard but will the established sand lower the ph? Also, if the older wood doesnot leak tannins anymore is it still creating a lower ph for a south american drawf tank. thank you. florida5089.

Sand doesn't lower ur ph unless you have those expensive sand made to lower ph than Yes! If the tanning on the wood has run out than it can't really lower your ph anymore.

Recommend searching for peat moss to lower ph for softer fish.

 

[ste12000]

Hi Florida.. i dont know the exact hardness of your water but would guess that any acids leached from wood or and decaying matter would not be strong enough to eat away the minerals that buffer your water..

You would have to physically remove the hardness(R/O unit) to stand any chance of significantly lowering your PH with the decor.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I'm pretty sure the geology for the S. of Florida is all limestone, so I would expect any ground water to be carbonate rich. Because of this carbonate buffering it is very difficult to lower the pH without using strong acids, and these have the disadvantage of raising, the all ready high, conductivity of the water. Could you use rain water?

cheers Darrel

 

[ste12000]

Could you use rain water?

Hi Darrel, do they get enough rain in florida to make this a option? i thought that it was the sunshine state?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Steve I think it probably has a high rainfall in the summer, and possibly a bit less in the winter. It is like Britain, if you are a land mass surrounded by a relatively warm sea, it is going to rain.

Because it is warmer than the UK, but pretty flat, I'd expect it would rain a bit more than the flatter parts of Britain, but not as much as Snowdonia etc.

I'm sure some-body from the USA will know the exact figure, but I would expect it to be somewhere around 1200mm (48") per year.

cheers Darrel