Blackwater

[Jonette Stabbert]

I’m having a really difficult time lowering the pH in preparation for eventually getting fish. (I’m starting to get impatient! It’s taking so long!) I have Catappa leaves and am slowly adding Eichen extract every day and am ordering some alder cones. Now I learned that two of my filters contain active charcoal and that works at cross purposes with my additives. So I’m ordering ceramic filter material to substitute for the charcoal. When I have some nano tanks set up, I will use simple sponge filters in them. But for now, I am attempting pH 6 and I haven’t been able to lower my pH 8 (tapwater) lower than 7.5

The smaller tanks will (I hope) eventually have 4.5 – 5 pH

Should I also buy a reverse osmosis system? If I do, is that to be used in combination with the Catappa and other additives? Will it provide a more stable pH?

I am only just learning about these methods and feel very insecure about mastering them.

[Arno Beißner]

Hello Jonette,
if you have some carbonate hardeness in the water the ph dont go lower.
Use clean rain -water or osmose-water.

Greetings Arno

[Jonette Stabbert]

Thank you, Arno. I am ordering an osmosis unit.

Jonette

[Jolanda Wisseborn]

Hello there, just entered here and think this site is great.

Just like Jonette, I also have a wildtank cycling for 4 weeks, filtering over turf and have catappa and beechleaves.

My Ph is normal around 7 and now it’s down to 6.4. My Kh is always low 3. My Gh is gone down from 8 to 4.8. Is it wise to lower till 6?

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