Lowering pH using Peat

[AquaStudent]

I'm trying to get everything organized in my tank before I pick up the fish. One of the things I just recently thought of is lowering the pH. My water is uber hard out of the tap and want to find a reliable way to lower it.

Getting an RO unit is not an option at the moment.
I'm moving to Albany and hopefully will have the option of setting up a rain water collection contraption but I haven't seen the specific apartment I'll be moving into and it's going to be freezing outside quite a few months of the year.

A fairly natural method I'm trying to research is peat. Is it simple (but safe) enough of a solution to use peat from Lowes/HD in a filter media bag and place it in my canister filter? There's the Fluval kits but I like to DIY things.

The question is will spagnum peat "moss" work or does it need to be peat (and where to find it)?

Peat Moss (likely spagnum)
http://www.lowes.com/pd_322730-1079...Ntt=peat&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=peat&facetInfo=

Peat?
http://www.lowes.com/pd_268062-1021...er&productId=3343200&rpp=32&searchQueryType=1

One thing I know I don't want is something like the Miracle Grow that has the fertilizers mixed in. I'm sure that's not a good addition to an aquarium.



I also have some Catappa leaves I plan on adding and will try and track down some North American Hardwood leaves in the fall.

 

[verbal]

A fairly natural method I'm trying to research is peat. Is it simple (but safe) enough of a solution to use peat from Lowes/HD in a filter media bag and place it in my canister filter? There's the Fluval kits but I like to DIY things.

The question is will spagnum peat "moss" work or does it need to be peat (and where to find it)?

Peat Moss (likely spagnum)
http://www.lowes.com/pd_322730-1079...Ntt=peat&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=peat&facetInfo=

That one looks like the right stuff. They key is it says:

Contains Plant Food/Fertilizer No

I think the peat pellets probably contain some type of fertilizer/plant food. Depending on how much you need, you may be able to make peat water in a bucket, and then add it to the tank.

 

[JasonC]

you want whatever you get to say sphagnum.

For me, I made a system for pre-treating the water by dripping it through the peat instead of putting the peat in the tank. Its basically a 5 gal bucket with a bunch of polyfill in the bottom (like bottom 1/3rd) and then the peat on top... oh.. and several small holes drilled in the bottom of the bucket. I suspend this over a rubbermaid, and fill the rubbermaid with tap water which I then use a pump to trickle over the peat. as it drains back down it is a beautiful golden color. I can usually strip my tap of all its hardness and lower its pH to 6.0 or below within about 24-48 hrs. Got this idea off apistogramma.com... can find the thread if you are interested.

 

[Tony]

you want whatever you get to say sphagnum.

For me, I made a system for pre-treating the water by dripping it through the peat instead of putting the peat in the tank. Its basically a 5 gal bucket with a bunch of polyfill in the bottom (like bottom 1/3rd) and then the peat on top... oh.. and several small holes drilled in the bottom of the bucket. I suspend this over a rubbermaid, and fill the rubbermaid with tap water which I then use a pump to trickle over the peat. as it drains back down it is a beautiful golden color. I can usually strip my tap of all its hardness and lower its pH to 6.0 or below within about 24-48 hrs. Got this idea off apistogramma.com... can find the thread if you are interested.

Great idea!

You can probably sink it really low with an extra day of running it.

 

[JasonC]

true... I have no idea how low I get it... don't have a pH meter, and no one (that I know of) makes drops that can read below 6.0.. That, and pH is not nearly as important when you are that low on hardness... If I understand this correctly, pH can shift easily in extremely soft water, but does not affect the fish, nor is it anymore a critical parameter. Check out http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/another-peat-filtration-question.11247/. This is where I got the idea for the bucket, and the thread has a fantastic discussion on peat usage, and pH vs. soft water issues.

 

[AquaStudent]

That's awesome Jason! I think I can visualize exactly what you're doing but if you have the link to the thread on hand I wouldn't mind confirming.

So spahgnum is the right stuff? On the wikipedia page for Spahgnum it infers that peat and peat moss are interchangeable.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Sonny Disposition]

What about switching over to hard water fish? That would be less involved for you.

 

[JasonC]

That's awesome Jason! I think I can visualize exactly what you're doing but if you have the link to the thread on hand I wouldn't mind confirming.

So spahgnum is the right stuff? On the wikipedia page for Spahgnum it infers that peat and peat moss are interchangeable.

Thanks for the help guys.

The link that I posted above has the discussion on it, but if you want a direct link to the project site, use http://www.marksfish.me.uk/index.php/Tips/Peat-Filtering.html . Mine looks virtually the same, except with a 30 gal rubbermaid underneath instead of a 55 drum. I also added a small pump in the rubbermaid that has a pvc spraybar with a ballvalve so I can control the flow into the bucket... found lots of peat and water on the floor several times because the pump had too high flow ;P

 

[Prince]

you want whatever you get to say sphagnum.

For me, I made a system for pre-treating the water by dripping it through the peat instead of putting the peat in the tank. Its basically a 5 gal bucket with a bunch of polyfill in the bottom (like bottom 1/3rd) and then the peat on top... oh.. and several small holes drilled in the bottom of the bucket. I suspend this over a rubbermaid, and fill the rubbermaid with tap water which I then use a pump to trickle over the peat. as it drains back down it is a beautiful golden color. I can usually strip my tap of all its hardness and lower its pH to 6.0 or below within about 24-48 hrs. Got this idea off apistogramma.com... can find the thread if you are interested.

please try I would be interested as well.

 

[AquaStudent]

Thanks Jason. I actually thought I deleted that sentence after looking at the link but I guess I didn't...

This looks like something I'd like to do when I get settled. I'm not sure how alkaline/hard the tap water will be and if I can do a rainwater collection. Either way time will tell.

@Sonny - I am keeping African Cichlids is my other tank but I would like to go with SA/CA in my planted tank. Most African Cichlids won't do well with my plants or small tetra school.

 

[ddavila06]

I'm trying to get everything organized in my tank before I pick up the fish. One of the things I just recently thought of is lowering the pH. My water is uber hard out of the tap and want to find a reliable way to lower it.
.

how hard is hard water?? hows ur ph now???

i tried long ago but then it became a headache and if u work etc...time consuming, now i keep my fish in ffx cty water which is around 7.4 and they do not seem to mind. i do not have fish that requires super low ph and hardness etc whatever.. some especiallized fish "must" have extreme conditions and thats a different story.

 

[Prince]

Thanks

 

[scientist0724]

I know a few people in GWAPA who use the Jiffy peat pellets in their filters to lower their pH and soften their water.

Arlene