"Elaine T" wrote in message
om...
NetMax wrote:
"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


As for substrate, if you have a substrate that doesn't affect pH, and
you change to a second substrate that doesn't affect pH, there will be
minimal impact. If your stubstrate is very dirty and leaching organics
into the tank, the pH may rise some. This is a good thing if your
substrate was that dirty and not planted!

Examples of pH neutral substrates are coated aquarium gravel, glass or
plastic marbles or decorating pebbles, rock or sand that doesn't fizz
when tested with acid, Fluorite, Eco Complete, and Onyx. Most lava
rock, tuffa, obsidian, sandstone, slate, shale, and clay does not
change pH. For acid testing, Oz says vinegar is not strong enough but
pH Down does the trick nicely.

Examples of pH changers are aragonite, crushed coral, substrates
designed for African rift lake cichlids, and rocks or sand that DO fizz
when tested with acid. pH changing rocks that come to mind are
limestone, marble, and some granites. I'm sure there are more.

Out of curiosity, why are you changing your substrate? Plants are
pretty flexible as to what they need to grow and you may be fine with
just laterite tablets under root feeding plants like Crypts, swords,
and Aponogetons.

--
__ Elaine T __
__' http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__


I had a geologist explain that there is sometimes some unpredictability
in how rocks react, as they are composed of various minerals.
Fortunately, it's in the minority of cases so your description holds
true, but I do have some red feldspar sandstone which seems to level off
at 7.4pH. It hardens sof****er, but not hardwater. Just fyi for
interest ).
--
www.NetMax.tk