Gravel makes water alkaline

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Blip, Aug 20, 2016.

  1. Blip

    Blip

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    Hi

    I have started up a new tank for about 4 weeks now and all is healthy. However I would like to get the pH down to try grow some of the more picky plants and I have discovered to my "horror" that that the gravel is buffering the tank back to over 7.2. I do not want to keep adding acid to my tank!!!! the plants hate the pH movement. I am trying to find an inert gravel but have now tried 2 different ones (one white and the other black) which the store says is safe and both have failed!!!! It seems like the gravel is made from marble and is dyed.

    Many years ago when I still lived in the Cape I raided a small stream there and got beautiful Table Mountain Sandstone gravel but up in Joburg I need to resort to pet shop stock or am I wrong?

    Barry
     
    Blip, Aug 20, 2016
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  3. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    Have you tried children's play sand?
    as far as I am aware, it is inert.
     
    Reedfish, Aug 20, 2016
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  4. OP
    Blip

    Blip

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    will try it, thanks
     
    Blip, Aug 20, 2016
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  5. Jwh

    Jwh

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    Do you know what gravel it is like crushed marble? I'm sure pfs is also inert
     
    Jwh, Aug 20, 2016
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  6. OP
    Blip

    Blip

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    I suspect it is crushed marble in disguise ie horrible limestone looking at how fast it ups the pH
     
    Blip, Aug 20, 2016
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  7. OP
    Blip

    Blip

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    sorry for ignorance but what is pfs?
     
    Blip, Aug 20, 2016
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  8. Pezulu

    Pezulu

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    PFS - Pool Filter Sand.
     
    Pezulu, Aug 20, 2016
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  9. OP
    Blip

    Blip

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    Thanks, Bit of a mission but changed the tank over yesterday to PFS. pH nice and stable for over 24hrs now at about 6.1 :)

    With the old "junk" I would have been back at 7.5 already!

    Regards
    Barry
     
    Blip, Aug 22, 2016
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  10. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    Good to hear that you solved the problem

    It is a mission to change the substrate of a tank if there are fish in it.
    Ideally I should have finer sand in my Ray tank, but the logistics of taking out the current gravel and replacing it with something else is a bit of a headache, so am leaving it for the mean time.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
    Reedfish, Aug 22, 2016
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