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#1
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Do plants lower the pH?
All,
My water's pH is 7.4 and as stable as the day is long (have a not-planted tank and the pH never fluctuates - this is the pH out of the tap). Recently, I got a 6 gallon tank, and put some plants in with a boat-load of Flourite for a substrate. After a day or so to let the tank settle, the pH in this tank was 7.1 or 7.2. I haven't added anything else to the tank (except a betta) - no store water, no chemicals other than AquaSafe to treat for chlorine, etc. Could the plants do this? Or the Flourite (seems like it would do the opposite)? Anywho, I'm keeping an eye on the pH to make sure it doesn't crash, but wanted to know if this was a known reaction with plants or if I should be watching for something else... Thanks, Liz |
#2
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Do plants lower the pH?
Are you injecting CO2 at all? This could lower the PH temporarily.
Also, do you know your KH? If it's really low, anything acidic introduced into the water could lower the PH once it overcomes the buffer. |
#3
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Do plants lower the pH?
No, have not injected CO2. KH is around 170-180. GH is about 100.
Thanks, Liz |
#4
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Do plants lower the pH?
On 9 Nov 2005 11:17:55 -0800, "Liz" wrote:
You may want to put in some shells in the tank. That may keep the PH to 7.5. They will acting as buffer and you don't have to worry about ph crush. You may have to add some more shells once a year or so because they just 'melt' away slowly. I learned my lesson the harrd way. I was trying to lower the PH in my tank and it kept bouncing back. Finally some people told me about the shells I kept in the tank. I took them out and the PH came down without any big effort. No, have not injected CO2. KH is around 170-180. GH is about 100. Thanks, Liz |
#5
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Do plants lower the pH?
Thanks, fish lover. The tank seems to have stabilized at 7.2 (pH) and
80KH. I'm still doing readings every week, sometimes more often. As long as it stays stable, I'm not concerned about raising or lowing the amounts, but if for any reason it becomes unstable, I'll keep your suggestion about the shells (I've also read this elsewhere, and it seems to be one of the more stable approaches - compared to adding chemicals / powders, which I'd prefer to avoid). Thanks, Liz fish lover wrote: You may want to put in some shells in the tank. That may keep the PH to 7.5. They will acting as buffer and you don't have to worry about ph crush. You may have to add some more shells once a year or so because they just 'melt' away slowly. I learned my lesson the harrd way. I was trying to lower the PH in my tank and it kept bouncing back. Finally some people told me about the shells I kept in the tank. I took them out and the PH came down without any big effort. |
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