Hi all.

I'm wondering if anyone can help me about adding coral which I read here can up the PH. I have a constant 7.0 and think my fish would be much happier with a higher PH. I don't test for KH - should I before adding coral ?and can I just add coral reef gravel straight to the tanks (after washing of course). I had a PH crash a while back and used a buffer that only got it it up from 6.2 to 6.8 so I think I need something more permanent in the tank.

Does anyone use coral to up the PH and how effective is it? (How much rise?)
Any side effects? I looked today and the package says only for tropical tanks...

( I have 2 x 30 US gallon tanks housing fish below) :

Hi Trinket! I started a thread about this not too long ago. Here is the link:

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=40610

Its working quite well for me!!

I am going to try Seachem Gold Buffer - I have not had any personal experience with coral but lots of people here have so I am sure you will get lots of good advice soon. I would try to test for pH, KH, and gH so you can see what your actaul buffering capacity is before you make any changes. While the pH test is sometimes hard to interpret on test strips, I like to use them (in conjunction with my FW Master Kit) to check on KH and gH qucikly and inexpensively. Although, I believe separate liquid tests can be found to measure KH and gH, too. Good luck with it! (I have a gravel-less tank so I have been using bicarb instead of coral).

Hi - I was just shopping and I saw this so I thought I would follow up with a link:

KH/gH Liquid test kit:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx

KH/gH Strip test:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy...Q%200192%200206

Also, here is a handy caluclator to help determine how much buffer you need to add to raise pH to the desired level:

http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/calKH.asp

Thanks everyone, I'm going to look at the links now and read up on it there. I suppose I'll find out there but what is an ideal KH reading? Thanks!!

Glitterfish, I just read your thread from a while ago (it was really interesting and helpful for me)and realise you must know about long term benefits of coral by now. Have you had to change the crushed coral, and how often? Also,I'm anxious about the water getting cloudy as it sounds a devil to rinse thoroughly- is there any danger to the fish at all? Thanks!!!!

Hi Trinket. I have added coral to all my tanks now and in the 2nd two it did not cloud the water. I rinsed for a couple minutes thoroughly and it was no problem. The one that was cloudy cleared itself out eventually and I have a betta in there doing quite well.
I havent had to change the coral yet. Someone else said every 6-7 months which sounds good to me! I have a 15 pound bag of the stuff and it should last me a long time!

Hi, I am going to move your thread into the water chem area. There you should get more advise. Good luck.