GH Levels

Hazcat said:

Hi all I have just done a 1/3 water change on my tank and with that I've done my water tests.

2 issues I came across and 1 I don't really know how to fix.

My Ph was a little elevated (7.0-7.3 range, did the water change 2 days late and I think my filter may be a little small?)

But my main issues is my GH is off the chart....like 400ppm...:-(

I have all fish that require soft water and at this stage it's clearly not soft.

Does anyone know the best way to safely lower the GH over time without affecting / stressing the fish?

I have Clown Loaches, Flying Foxes, Neon Tetras and Black Widow Tetras.

My numbers were
PH between 7.0 - 7.3
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrites 0
KH 4 drops (3-6 drops 50-100ppm)
GH 21 drops (11-22 drops 200-400ppm)
Temp 26

Thanks in advance

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Hi Hazcat,

Peat can be used to effectively lower hardness (both dKH and dGH). The peat will bind with the calcium and magnesium ions to help lower dGH. At the same time it releases acids (gallic and tannic) which break down the bicarbonates in the water which reduces the water's dKH (carbonate hardness) and PH. Peat moss is added to a media bag and placed in the filter where the water is forced to flow through it. How much to use would depend on the water volume to be treated. I recommend starting with a small amount and see what the effect is after a week. Using peat moss will add tannins to the water turning it yellowish; this condition can be corrected using Seachem Purigen to remove the tannins.

RO (reverse osmosis) water is an alternative as well however I would avoid distilled water unless I could insure it was not distilled using copper coils which could possibly impart copper ions into the treated water.

Diana said:

8 drops is

8 x 17.9 = 143 ppm.

Not nearly as bad as the over 200 it had seemed.
Still, those fish may like the organic acids that peat adds to the water. I run peat in several tanks.

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What's peat?

Our tank is running so awesome atm no deaths, plants doing well (only have java fern) and water parameters are all brilliant except for an unexpected temp spike due to unusually hot weather here

Jut at a question though, SHOULD I have a nitrate reading? I always have 0ppm

Current numbers are

PH 6.8
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
KH 3
GH 3
Temp currently sitting 26.1C


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