ph level between 4.9 - 4.5

[cantonensis]

Went to the local CRS specialist here in HK, with some fine specimens for sale and display.

From what recommends is that the ph levels should be sub 5!!!!:huh:

I have been reading alot on the parameters of what the water is best suited to CRS and commonly the numbers stated range from 6.2 to 7.2, and many of you guy out there seem to confirm that.

Anyone tried keeping CRS < ph 5?

He asked me what kind of biological filter material i was using on my canister, I answer him with SERA Siporax, which i have been using for a LONG time, never had problems with my Frontosa and many other types of fish i've kept.

But interestingly he mentioned that SERA was not suitable for keeping CRS as it kept the GH very high and didnt allow for the water ph level to go down to a desired low level i.e below 5?

didnt make any sense to me, but if that was the case, it means most of the ceramic/glass whether branded or unbranded had an undesirable effect?

He recommend to start over if i could with ceramic ring from Totto, a japanese brand. totto,com,jp<--- admin please delete if not allowed.
I couldnt find the product in the website, all in Japanese, but this is definitely the brand.

At $8xx HKD for 5 litres, this is damn expensive, I thought SERA was expensive!

He said that this kind of ceramic ring has a property which allows for the water to reduce to sub ph5 level.

So to conclude:

1) Anyone out there who keeps CRS <ph5 levels? any benefit?
2) How does one get the ph level so low in the first place? any natural way of doing this?

And all this came about from a conversation about one of my prized CRS dying whilst moulting, the exo-skeleton was still half on :cry:

[seetharam]

Well ......... same as you .... this is the first time i have heard of keeping CRS in a pH of below 5, I keep my S rade CRS in a pH of 6.8 - 7.2. Did that seller actually have high grade CRS in a pH < 5? I guess we need some experts to share some information on this.

With regards to your shrimp having molting issues, it could be lack of minerals in the water. What is the gH of your water? Ideal gH is 8, this works well for my CRS. I used to have this problem as i use RO water, but once i started maintaining the gH by using Mosura Mineral Plus , i have not had any problems.

[gr81]

I had them at 5,8. but for short only. It was due to peat and low water changes. CRS did not look too happy :).
Faded colors, low activity. You should try it, but it´s not ideal.

[guppies]

I made a mistake of using Sulfuric acid to lower the pH from 7.2 to 6.5, the pH was fine for the first 12 hours then dropped to 6. I didn't add more acid but changed water using RO water hoping to bring the pH up. The next day pH dropped to 4.9 - 5.2, the shrimps swam erratically, in a few hours more than 15 died, then 5 or 6 the next day continued for 4 days. I ended up with almost 30 deaths. Huge mistake!

[gr81]

using RO is very dangerous. it has Kh 0 so it is very unstable and ph can make shock jump as in your case.

[guppies]

I know now, the buffer wasn't in place to keep the pH stable. I think I did add partial tap in the on the 2nd day. But the shrimps continued to die for another two days. I felt so stupid.

[Bumple]

What do you do to RO water to stabilize it, to put a buffer into place like you said?

[seetharam]

You can mix RO water with Tap water to attain the right kH & gH, BUT the % of Tap Water to be mixed with RO water depends entirely on the parameters of the tap water. You will have to arrive at the right % by trial.

[mikishuhoo]

I use RO water with Tap water by 50/50 then use the ADA
Amazonia soil to adjust the water paramters. So far I am doing OK.

Kenny

[Tn23]

My water is currently 5.0-5.5 pH. my CRS seem to be fine and out of 25, 6 females are berried. Babies are doing fine also and everything seems to be okay, However I only have SS grades.

[guppies]

Tn23 how long do you have your CRS at that pH range? what is the temp?