Texas holey rock contained by my puffer container?
Hi - I have been looking for some new decor for my integer eight puffer tank (and maybe my 75 gallon community). My ph in both tank is about 8.0 now (my tap sea is this). From what I have researched on the texas holey rock, it will raise the ph. I don't want to go any superior that my 8.0 ph though. I am wondering since I have a high ph already, if it will put on a pedestal it more, or keep it at 8.0. Also, when I have seen holey rock for mart it is listed for 'cichlids'. If it keeps the ph at 8.0, is there any other spoil to my puffers. In my community tank, I have angelfish, clown loaches, and pristilla tetras. If this won't work, any other suggestions. I have tried driftwood - and be not happy at all. Thanks
TX Holy rock has a calcium floor, which means it's ... likely that it will alter your water parameters--hardness and pH but at Petsmart you can capture a bottle of Topfin ph decrease to take down the ph..
From what I know of puffers, they are brackish fish and do well up to a pH of 8.2. However, if your tank is not already brackish, and you net it brackish, your pH will go up some as it is.
Anyway, my concern with the rock wouldn't be as much the pH, as it would be the possibility of your puffer getting scraped up.
I wouldn't mess beside what's working just for decor.
I recommend that you see if you can find something comparable in lie decor to feed your desire for new decor.
Answers: You do realize this rock will slowly dissolve over time. making your tank more alkaline not sour. Depending on the ph of the rock itself would determine if it will raise it or maintain it. It won't lower it that is to say for sure. As an alternative to drift wood, you can use bagged peat or any bagged bog wood obscured in your filter. Keeping it there hidden will little by little and naturally lower your ph and keep it stable. this is much better than using chemicals on a each day basis, which you would have to do to maintain the ph since the filter would verbs them out quickly. Although an 8 is fine for your puffer. Having a stable ph is better than one that changes.
Try a daypack of bog wood/driftwoods or peat in the filter. you may need to give it a few hours since it won't basically bottom out the PH.
If your pH is anywhere over 7.6, it won't raise the pH. It only just acts as a buffer to keep the pH above 7.6. Really, your pH shouldn't be so high. Figure 8s will do best within slightly hard, alkaline water. Around 7.2 or 7.4 would be ideal. If I be you, I'd buy some driftwood for the puffer tank. Not only due to the pH, but puffers tend to get shred up on sharp objects, as they are scaleless. Texas holey rock would be ok contained by your other tank, but your pH is a bit high for the tetras and angels.
