Re: Suggestions for making water more acidic?

[Steph & Dave <caligula@tig.com.au>]

I too use the Seachem Acid Buffer, I havent found any problems with it
and had good results keeping a stable pH with it.

Its also a non phosphate based buffer so it doesnt encourage the algae.

Steph

Lcrabo@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 2/26/2000 7:45:27 AM, you wrote:
> 
> <<>  Any other suggestions on how to safely lower the pH?
> >
> Try one of the following-
> 1)  Sphagnum peat moss or Fluval peat pellets; I put it in a box filter and
> let it bubble.  Some folks just stick it in the toe of an old nylon and let
> it "steep" like tea, only it takes a lot longer(days).
> 2)  Oak or beech leaves.  Dry brown ones off the ground.  just layer the
> bottom of the tank.
>     Either of the above methods will also soften the water.  Hardness is also
> a factor here.
> 3)  Muriatic acid from a hardware store.  This is 31% hydrochloric.  It
> stinks something awful and is too strong to use straight.  Mix one quart of
> muriatic with 3 gallons of water.  Then use it sparingly.  Start at 2 drops
> per gallon, measure the pH, and don't be surprized if the next day the pH is
> back up.  This is alkalinity, and must be overcome to make a permanent change
> in pH effective.  Eventually, it will stay down.
> 
> Bob Dixon>>
> 
> I have recently started to use Seachem acid buffer.  I have soft water, but
> it has stayed alkaline despite leaves, peat (I probably didn't change often
> enough), and bogwood.  I have successfully adjusted the pH of my Apisto tanks
> to ~6, and a checkerboard tank to less than six, the limit of my test kit.
> Last week the checkerboards spawned, and today I noticed that an older pair
> of norberti spawned after nearly a year of no such luck.  I think the buffer
> works.  I used a trial and error method similar to Bob's.  Start with a
> little, see what happens over the next few days, etc.
> 
> Lars
> 
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