lower ph without staining water?

[Luichenwai]

I know I can lower the ph with Dry Almond Leaves or with Peat. But both of these make the water a bit brownish color. Is there another way of lowering the PH?

I"m going to start keeping Crystal Red Shrimp. They are known to like water that is more neutral. I think my Ph is a bit higher. I'll have to check. (I had African Cichlids in there)

[imeridian]

If you have water with a high KH, leading to a high pH, the way to decrease that is to dilute your current water with water lacking KH: RO or distilled.

[Luichenwai]

hmm sounds good.

I think id have to test my water first... If anytyhing.. I'll go to the supermarket to buy some distilled water.

[lauraleellbp]

Just in case:

It is likely you need to change out our substrate as well- African cichlid substrate is designed to raise and buffer pH and hardness. You'll still end up w/ alkaline water using RO/DI unless you get inert substrate (ADA AquaSoil will help, on the other hand)

[Luichenwai]

Actually, the substrate is Pool Filter Sand. So I think I'm ok with the substrate. In the tank I have a ton of java moss and a nice piece of driftwood. I think the driftwood is also supposed to drop the ph some. I'll run tests tonight of my tap water and tank water. Who knows, maybe I dont need to do anything and my cichlids just adapted! lol