"Angrie.Woman" wrote in message
om...
In another thread that I didn't want to hijack, Elaine wrote:

"I learned from the fish store owner where I worked (he had 30 years
aquarium experience and wrote articles
for TFH) that just about any fish does fine at any pH between 6 and 8
as long as the pH stays stable. Fish HATE pH swings and the best way
to do that is to start messing with your water chemistry."

Does that mean I can't add driftwood to an established tank, or is the
change too subtle?

Also, doesn't changing the substrate also change it? I'm still
pondering the least expensive way to get some green plants in there.

A


Minerals (gravel, rocks, chips) and organic matter (peat, terbang, oak
and various driftwood types) are often used to change the pH. If
placed into the tank, their effect is often much more subtle and gentle
on the fish. Depending on your objective VS your current water
parameters, their effects may or may not be sufficient, so then you
adjust the effect by increasing the quantity (matter/water ratio),
decreasing water changes (typically with a decrease in fishload) or
pre-filter the change water (ie: filtering water through peat, dolomite
etc).

The nice thing about natural pH adjusters like this, is that often their
effect tends to adjust itself to your water (ie: the more acidic your
water, the more quickly coral will dissolve into it, dissolving minerals
which add to your kH, gH and increasing your pH. hth
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