[Hobbes1911]

The title pretty much says it. I'm interested to know, what I can add to a tank substrate to keep my pH permanently low; i.e. to raise the pH I would add crushed coral. To lower it I assume I add peat? However, does garden store peat work or do I need to find some other source? And what else is there that's easy to come by?

 

[Wasserpest]

As long as it doesn't have fertilizer and/or fungi/herbicides mixed in, garden store peat should work. However, it will also turn your water brownish if you actually want to affect the pH with it.

CO2 works quite well... dissolving in water it turns into carbonic acid, which brings down the pH. It's all related to kH though, so unless your water is very soft (low kH), it will be difficult to bring down the pH that much without suffocating every animal.

 

[Hobbes1911]

wasn't looking to use CO2. should be a low light, low fert tank (moss, crypts and ferns). need the pH around 4.5-6.5 for Boraras maculatus to spawn and I was thinking to doing something to the substrate without having to add pH down all the time.

 

[boink]

You could use those indian almond leaves...they are supposedly to temporarily lower ph.

 

[billb]

Cool! I think it would be fun to breed maculatas. In addition to an acidic environment, you will probably need it pretty soft too. Really, it is hard to beat Aquasoil for this. It really does drop both the pH and hardness if you aren't using RO water. Is there a reason you don't want to use it?

Bill

 

[Hobbes1911]

I already have the fish and was not looking to have tannins in the water for a month. Since I will be unable to really treat it much

 

[JennaH]

What about adding some fresh driftwood?