Questions and Problems with High PH

Niyona

I just moved into a new apartment, and am noticing that the PH of my tap is 8.0. I have some questions.

1: I'm planning on keeping a pair of German Blue Rams - will they adapt to this high ph? What about eggs, will it kill them or could they successfully breed at this PH?

2: Freshwater shrimp - I love the guys, was thinking of keeping some cherries. Will they adapt to the higher ph? What about their breeding habits? Will the Ph kill their eggs?

I know the "ph buffer" type products don't really work on a ph as high as mine, plus they're not really good with the live plants I have in my tank. Other than Peat (I don't really want brown water) and RO is there any other way to lower PH?

I've got driftwood, but I doubt that will drop the PH by much.

Lupin

Your best bet is to get blue rams that are bred in the same water conditions as you have. Local breeders are a good resource for this.

Cherry shrimps will be fine. Add plenty of plants if you want them to survive your rams.

Angel079

Second the thought the chems are a poor route to take. I'd have said & explained peat but if you don't like that R/O really is your only option.
What's your KH in combo with this pH do you know?

You must be wayyy on the other side of East TN then I am...Cause I get 6.8 pH here with a KH of ONE on a good day lol.
Edit or if you ain't too far we'll fill yo water jugs up at my house

JohnnyD44

agree with both....i'm not a fan of using chems to mess with your natural pH llevel

Niyona

Yeah I'm not really a fan either. I'm reconsidering the peat though. As I also plan on keeping rummy nosed tetra's and they come from brown/black water as well.

Does anyone have any pictures of tanks that have been using peat? I'd like to see just how much it effects the water color.

Angel079

If you go under my name Angel079 here where it has 2 tap one of which's called Aquariums go to the one tank that's called "Killi" and/ or the "African Dwarf Frog" both them were set up with heavy peat use.
My newest one that has coffee water you can see in the log is "New 45g" and the "New shrimp farm" (with the black sand - Both these new set ups really look like coffee when I do w/c thou when you actually look at the tanks they look clear.

cmc29

I use peat in my tank. I run it in my filter. I don't think my water is brown. Check out my aquarium tab for pics, or my pictures and albums to see how quickly my plants have grown in a month. Here is one for quick view

Attached Images

DSCF3768.jpg (112.1 KB, 16 views)

JohnnyD44

that is some pretty clear water for using peat from what I've read...