Dropping pH

[WaterH2O]

Hi guys

Have a tank with magicsoil and GEX soil in it which I am trying to low PH. It has buffering effect so does it means what ever method I bring the PH down it will go back to neutral or the buffering means what KH does to PH swings?

[Shadow]

actually the other way around, it will go down to certain pH (around 6) and stay there. Adding sodium bicarbonad will temperory raise the pH for about a day before it go down again. Of course if you keep doing that, it will be exausted and lost it pH buffering/lowering capability.

[torque6]

gex soil no need to buffer PH, it will come down on its own, i have just a co2 system with .5 bps and it sits comfortably at around 6.6.

[WaterH2O]

But my is a mixture between Gex and Magicsoil so maybe the effect not so prominent?

[Shadow]

I never try magic soil, but if I'm not mistaken it is also have the pH lowering capability.

[torque6]

But my is a mixture between Gex and Magicsoil so maybe the effect not so prominent?

Believe you are refering to Rika magical soil ? yes it does have PH lowering buffers, its on the bag item, remember it labelled PH 5.8 or something similar.

[WaterH2O]

Not too sure if it is Rika as I did not buy the whole pack. The owner at colourful open a orangly/reddish packet and packed into 2 1 kg package as I have only a 1feet tank.
I tested my PH for the past 2 days still at 7.0 - 7.2 lei and this setup aready into 2 week cycle.

[Shadow]

I wonder if you have anything in your filter that causing the ph to raise.

[torque6]

yes, its the orange and red packet one.

Test kit reading can be off by 0.2 sometimes, its fine. You indicated 2 weeks of cycling, so there is no water change? A couple of post from you but i am not sure as to the need for these urgency to drop PH.

[WaterH2O]

No water change just following Tom's recommendation not to change water for low tech tank. Thinking of dropping the PH to house a pair of apisto that why.

[torque6]

h2o,
then no need to worry, as long as your water changes are not >40%, PH after wc should still sit comfortably at 6.6 or lower. If you are worried, may want to cycle your tank for a couple of weeks, this should give time for magic soil to bring PH to its intended levels.

[WaterH2O]

Too late the apisto pair are already in.

[torque6]

... ..
h20,
would have been easier if you highlighted that you have only 10 days to bring PH down when you first posted. I would not have suggested normal cycling.