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Does ADA Aquasoil buffer pH up?

4K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Diana 
#1 ·
I have fairly acidic well water, coming out of the tap at 6.5 and soft, 3* GH and 0* KH. My main tank is loosely an Amazonian setup, with fish, plants and driftwood. As you can probably imagine, the pH is below 6.0. Would Aquasoil buffer up? Or does it just pull alkaline water down?
 
#4 ·
If you want to be more sure of raising the pH and mineral levels then you might run some tests of coral sand or oyster shell grit in the filter.
Oyster shell grit is sold in pet stores for small birds. You could get a box and test it out.

The ADA substrates seem to remove the KH from the water, and this allows the pH to drop. The oyster shell or coral would be adding KH to the water, and this ought to help stabilize the pH.
It might be walking a tightrope for a while until the substrate became saturated, holding all the carbonate it wants.
 
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