PH and buffering

[TOMMYN3D]

Hello everyone, I keep guppies, tin foil barbs, plecos, hoplo catfish, and everything but cichlids:shocked:. I know your asking what am i doing hanging around here..But im starting my first cichlid tank and its gonna be with Orang Shoulder peacocks. my tap water comes out at a ph of 8 to 8.4 with means i wont have to treat the water with a 7.0 ph treatment like i do with my tanks now. I use API stress coat to condition the water. my question is do i still need to add crush coral or holly rock to buffer the water? will my ph drop automatically if i dont add crush coral or anything to buffer it at all? any help with this or any help with keeping these guys happy would help thanks.. Tommy

[fischfan13]

Tommy, first thing...no one would ever question what anyone here keeps.
I am going to get back into Guppies after a 30 year hiatus form them.

If I were you I would still keep crushed coral in the tank or in a filter...consider it peace of mind.

Now my BIG question...
Where/who are you getting Orange Shoulders (Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Mkondowe") from?

[emartin]

I disagree with fischfan13, with your pH you should'nt have any need for crushed coral unless you want to use it as a substrate or as media for the bio filter.

To determine if your pH will drop or not depends on your water hardness and alkalinity. Would you mind providing us with those?

~Ed

[fischfan13]

Adding crushed coral in either a nylon stocking or in a nylon net (like the net that comes with an AquaClear filter) to a filter will help buffer water.
If the water that is coming out of the tap is 8.0, like Tommy says, then keeping the CC in a bag will help keep the ph steady, and hopefully prevent a crash.

Many of us have been doing this for years.

[emartin]

Adding crushed coral in either a nylon stocking or in a nylon net (like the net that comes with an AquaClear filter) to a filter will help buffer water.
If the water that is coming out of the tap is 8.0, like Tommy says, then keeping the CC in a bag will help keep the ph steady, and hopefully prevent a crash.

Many of us have been doing this for years.

I trust your judgement and experience, but if his water is hard, high alkalinity, and has that pH I don't see how a crash could occur.

Either way though as Fischfan13 say it's always better to place it safe and put the crushed coral in the filter...it's a good biomedia too.

~Ed

[Afreakin]

The only time a crash would occur if the water isn't changed and the nitrates are able to reach high numbers which in turn would lower the ph.

[cwnaturescapes]

also the big question is, are there going to be plants in the tank?

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

The only time a crash would occur if the water isn't changed and the nitrates are able to reach high numbers which in turn would lower the ph.

Ed I think this is what Fan is talking about . I believe Bev. has talked about having 6-7 tap water which later drops down 4-5 ph in one of her post's.

I'd say a bag of arogonite in the filter couldn't hurt and would in addition add another colony of good bacteria to the system. Win-Win

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Also Tommy where in central do you live , I'm gonna move there now Gotta have that water for myself lucky dog !

[fischfan13]

Ed I think this is what Fan is talking about . I believe Bev. has talked about having 6-7 tap water which later drops down 4-5 ph in one of her post's.

I'd say a bag of arogonite in the filter couldn't hurt and would in addition add another colony of good bacteria to the system. Win-Win

Thanks, Bush.
Actually some of the other things to worry about are algae (green water), ammonia buildup and overstocking with not enough filtration and very infrequent water changes.
Any of these things could also cause a ph crash.

But adding more bacteria is always a good thing.

[CJC]

IMO, I would keep some buffers, crushed coral is what I use, no worries then. I live in central Jersey and have had the water turn to acid at times. I always keep crushed coral in the tanks or for filter media.

Jeff, your moving?

[Heyguy74]

Now my BIG question...
Where/who are you getting Orange Shoulders (Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Mkondowe") from?


He getting some from me. The fry of the ones i bought from you. BTW, The male is looking good. He's is easliy 6+ inches now.

[fischfan13]

Tommy, if they are coming from Will then you are getting some GREAT Aulonocara!

[Bev N]

If your on public water the ph from your tap water may very likely be that high becasue they raise the ph of the water so that it does not damage their water lines. In that case the ph will drop after it's been in your tank.

I have had it drop from 7.5 out of the tap to 5 in a matter of two weeks.

[DNICE]

Thanks, Bush.
Actually some of the other things to worry about are algae (green water), ammonia buildup and overstocking with not enough filtration and very infrequent water changes.
Any of these things could also cause a ph crash.

But adding more bacteria is always a good thing.

Always better to be safe than sorry!

[TOMMYN3D]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.Yes fishfan13 Will was nice enough to hold some for me.I live in North Plainfield, NJ and my water company is American water, which is supplied by Elizabeth ,NJ .. The water always comes in with a high PH of 8 ..AND THE WATER IS HARD ,I never tested it but i get calcium build up on the head of the faucet and in the tub which periodically have to remove..
After reading your responses i will add some crush coral to my filter just to be safe. and any other advive will be greatly appreciated . thanks to everyone.. and thanks WILL.
I hope i answered everyone question, if i miss any one please fell free to ask.

[emartin]

North Plainfield has a ph of 8 and hard water? Lucky guy... Down here in Long Branch I get tap water at a pH of 5 and soft water....great for new world cichlids I guess, but I have to buy Seachem Lake Salt and Malawi Buffer buckets 1-2 times a year for all my tanks... :(

~Ed

[fischfan13]

Tommy, sorry to sidetrack this post.
You will definitely be happy with the Aulonocara.
I can remember some guy from another site BEGGING me to hold some of these fish for him...I get bombed everytime I think about this guy.:pointlaugh:
Unfortunately, for him, he never got any.

http://forums.eastcoastcichlids.org/showthread.php?t=58

[TOMMYN3D]

also the big question is, are there going to be plants in the tank?

No i wont have any real plants in the tank. im decorating it with rocks and tera cotta pots for caves.

[TOMMYN3D]

Fishfan do you still keep these guys in your collection now? If not and wanna get back into them ill grow some out for you.since their your original line It will be my pleasure.

[fischfan13]

Tommy, thank you for the very generous offer.
Maybe we will talk down the road.

Will (HeyGuy), whom I hold in very high regards, has also given me an offer in the not-so-distant future.

[JonV]

Tommy, I also responded in the other forum you asked about this, and I'd like to tack on a bit more from what I mentioned there. I use the buffers myself, and what I use are Wonder Shells. The information about Wonder Shells can be obtained from http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com I'm in NJ as well, over in Randolph which is kind of like North Central. Tap had been comming out in that 7.7 7.8 range kind of but not crashing back. I never found my GH and KH readings however to be high and stable.

That's why i decided to use Wonder Shells instead of the typical Rift Lake Salts. Wonder Shells give you not just a calcium suppliment, but as well will give you the other trace minerals you need to maintain an overall balance. They don't add in all at once which is another good thing, it's a self dissolve in the tank.

Overall, health has well improved in my tanks since I started employing this, and I think it's worth bringing up. Maybe other hobbyists as well might benefit from use of this, never know. Either way I think you asked a beneficial question for all to interact with.

[TOMMYN3D]

Thanks ,JonV. for that site im going to start with the crush coral in my filter and keep an eye on the PH to see if it it changes throughout the week and during water changes.Im going to read more into those shells as it my also be beneficial .But i think with my water naturally coming out with a high PH It will be safe for these guys. thanks , TOMMY