Amazon affiliate link for the Apera pH meter: amzn.to/2S81Ws5 Want to learn more about water chemistry? Check out these videos! Water Hardness: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rriJl9enxtHKpmQ.html Aquarium pH: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mp9-YK2dztfXeps.html Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics

Yeap, yeap.... spot on PTA! Was just talking about this the other day. Thanks for your time good Sir!

Another great video and you know how much I appreciate how you explain everything so we can understand!! You make being a student a pleasure 😁 I appreciate your thoughtfulness, plus you always share links to things you know we will truly need at great prices. And if it helps support this channel that's a win-win ♥️ when I kept fish the first time around, I worked in a pet store, so I went head-first into specialty type aquariums (discus)and it was a lot of work to keep water parameters right. I was successful, but I can say I didn't enjoy the maintenance, because of the stress to make sure to keep my water right. This time I'm trying to work with the water that I have and it is a lot more enjoyable. Right now if I use an API 5 in 1 test strip. The only thing that changes is the pH,it is between 6.5 and 7. The rest of the strip doesn't change color. That has been consistent over the past six months of having my tanks. I'm going to get me a TDS meter. Have you shared a link for one? Sorry that I'm always long-winded.🤣 But Primetime aquatics videos are inspiring and makes the hobby fun. I hope you have an amazing weekend. I promise I'll get better on the long comments 🤣🤣❤️✌️🙏🐟🌱🌿

This is the kind of video I'd share with people who don't understand, to save me a bunch of time explaining. However. Sadly. I forget to share such videos and end up messaging advice for ages. Great video.

Another great one Jason!!

You are the best informational source. We all appreciate your educational background.

your water chemistry videos are so helpful to a newbie in the hobby!

Almost missed this one, very helpful 🤓

That explains it very well Jason. I learnt something new today. Thanks for that.👍🏻

Thanks for the last-second scenario. My actual sitch at the moment.

Great video. Really like the education aspect of your videos!

Very informative as usual. Thank you.

Excellent video and informative and chemistry. ..once again you explained something that can had to comprehend and made a practical explanation that we can relate to.

I absolutely love your videos on water chemistry! I also love that your explanations are scientifically based as well as anecdotal. Keep up the good work and I’ll continue to reference your videos when the internet confuses me 😂

That driftwood is EPIC!

This is the clearest discussion I have ever heard of this. Good job. 👍👍👍

Have hard well water, just know I like the way wood looks in an aquarium. Rocks wood,plants and pleco caves are my only decorations. Thanks for the video Professor!

What a great video. Learned something new today. Thank you.

Why do you only have 70k subs? Your videos are excellent - great information, great clarity and relevance and great presentation, In other words GREAT raised to the 3rd power. Keep it up, well appreciated.

Thx 😊 Jason

Great video Jason! One day, I hope that you are able to visit me here in California so that you can analyze my water and make some suggestions! Hope you and the family are doing well.

Thanks You taught me something.

Nice video.

this was helpful

agree! if you use RODI water with remineralization (product containing low KH), your driftwood will have much higher impact on your pH

I bought a $10 piece of driftwood at my LFS. Boiled it three times in 2 days. Put it in my 20g long and in two days the water was very light tinted but all 12 of my glowlights were dead and a platy dead 2 days later. Ph dropped from 7.4 to 6 too quickly. I tested ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and did a water change the day before adding the driftwood. Levels were the usual good. Didn't consider checking gh and kh. I am slowly doing extra water changes hoping the driftwood stops leeching as much tannins. So far my 6 platies are ok.

I put a untreated driftwood in my crayfish pond put some methylene blue and it's been 8months now problem so far no diseases but the color of my pond is like a tea

Very god information!

Are KH & GH are almost a zero in Seattle, so we have to use crushed coral to keep the ph from crashing.

On point! The common confusion is between soft VS acidic water. The water becomes soft if it's devoid of those minerals that buffer the water. The water is acidic if there is presence of acids, like tannic acid, regardless if the water is soft or hard. On that note, water can be hard and acidic at the same time.

Please make a video on ph up and down.

I boiled 2 small pieces of driftwood to put in my 5 gal tank for 20min, 5 times over. First time tank set up, pH after 1 week was 6.4, water pH was +7. Might have low kH!

I've noticed that in my tanks (neutral pH, hard water) wood can have an effect when it's new (usually minor). However it doesn't last very long, since most of the tannins seem to leach out within the first few weeks or months. Also, the type of wood can make a difference as well as the size and shape (surface area) of the wood and volume of the tank. I would imagine the substrate might also impact the buffering.

Hi Jason, Great educational videos as always, I live in Toronto, in a Condo, I do water change just 50% on Wednesdays and 50-70% Sundays with a gravel vac. i have a 220 gallon, with 20, 5-7" Discus, my API tests are within the recommended parameters, except the water Hardness, this always between 60-180 GH, would you recommend trying to adjust the GH in anyway, I am afraid of trying any thing and getting a crash, although i am no into breeding, both discus and angels lay eggs every once in a while.

Great information as usual! How about video providing tips on how to catch fish for relocation? I have 3 hillstream loaches in a 20 long that i want to relocate to a 75 and they are impossible to net.

Hi Jason. What is your opinion about using Wonder Shells as a buffer?

How we can scrub hard to remove green spot algae from plastic aquarium without without scratch it? Is there any way to kill these green spot algae?

Yes. Almond leaves or ph down

Great video. I recall reading somewhere that a heavily planted tank will lower KH, which in turn will reduce the buffering in a tank. Is this true in your experience?

Yes, yes it does...

How often do you recommend cleaning sponge filter?

Hi thank you very much for the information. A week ago I bought red moore drift wood and I cleaned them with normal called water and then put them for a test in 125 L aquarium. Today after a week I can see a build up of white algae on the wood ! Is that normal ? How to treat it? Does it harm the fish. Do you suggest drift wood for discus tank? If yes what would be the best drift wood type . Because is my 1st time to use drift wood . Please advise . Thanks

I have African cichlids with driftwood it is ok? For long term use. I have crushed corals also.

Hi Jason, I just set up my first 75gal aquarium and I ordered a big piece of drift wood off Amazon. When I got it I washed it off, and I filled up my tank and got everything going and put it in the tank everything seemed good but now 2 days later my water looks durty like it has a brown tent to it. What should I do?

I just realized the ph in all of the 3 tanks I have is pretty high , about 8 and 9 ... can it be damaging for my fish ? In a tank I have female bettas , espei rasboras and flame tetras ( that’s the tank with the small driftwood ) , in another tiger barbs and rosy barbs and in the biggest tank I have a large black moor with 3 female ( two platys and one swordtail ) livebearers ....

Is this fish this is awesome

I have 9 breeding pairs of mikro geophagus. From what I've learnt, dwarf cichlids need very soft water under 100ppm.. now I'm using RO water. Is there any point trying to re-mineralize?

Hey Jason, where’s that ph meter link? I want one!!! Take my money!! Lol

So, if I have about an 8ph and hard water a piece of driftwood that's a little bigger than my fist it wont affect my ph that much? It's going in a 125g tank for a new clown pleco I just got.

please help????? how to maintain pH of 5, for ALTUM ANGELS! i have driftwood and indian leaves. but pH does not go lower than 6.5 or so..

I put fresh wood (grapevine, peach or apple branches etc). Will fresh/live wood affect PH?

My waterlilies sure do.

Hello, I am wanting to buy an angel fish for my aquarium. Our local water has a higher PH and hardness. Our local fish store has the angel fish for sale in a tank using RO water. So if I buy this fish it will go from a lower ph in the store to a higher ph and hardness in my aquarium. Will this cause issues? How do I help with the transition?

I bought two bristlenose plecos for my 125 African Cichlid tank want to add wood for them but want one that doesn’t lower the ph ? Which do you recommend? Or is it needed for them? If not what else can I give to help with fiber

I have high kh how do i lower this? My ph is high too....nitrate is hard to keep low too i put plants in and it helped. Please help.

What if you have low ph and kh? ☹

Great info . But now I have 0 clue what to do with new betta . Can I add wood and dirt to 8 ph or can I not :(

I have boiled my driftwood several times and it's still turning the water brown. It's much lighter than in the beginning but I'm hesitant to put it in the tank as I don't want it to turn my water brown. How do I know when it's safe to add it to the tank?

so then how do i lower KH ? My 106 gal planted tank is 3KH, my ph has been a nightmare 7.8 and i would like to lower to KH1 and PH 6.9

I have read that Magnolia leaves can be used like Indian Almond leaves for betta fish tanks...is that true? and can Magnolia wood be used in tanks as well like driftwood?

How long will the drift wood release tannins in the water? I have a large wood in my 20 gallon.

You had me at "let's go around the fishroom..." I always used to look at the EBA tank behind your left shoulder and now that you've moved them I have no choice but to get lost in that lush mane.... #BeardLivesMatter

I recently purchased a couple pieces of driftwood. I boiled them several times. Could never get the water clear. I got tired of waiting, thinking that most of the tannin had to be gone by then. Well i was wrong. Now my tank is dark and i do not know how to get rid of the dark water. I've been doing were changes about once a week. It seems to help for a bit then after a few days it is dark again. I really the like driftwood but this is ridiculous that I'm still dealing with dark water especially after following the directions on how to avoid that happening. Any other suggestions?

Ok, I'm a bit confused about the driftwood, KH & pH relationship. I used to believe that when I lived in Connecticut. But now that I live in New Hampshire I don't buy it any more. Let me explain... My tap water comes out as TDS 96, GH 0, KH 0, pH 6.5. I add Seachem Equilibrium which raises my TDS to 126, GH to 4. I then add sodium bicarbonate which raises my KH to 3 and my pH to 6.8. By the end of a week before my water change the KH dropped back to zero but my pH stays at 6.8. The tank in question is a 40B with a couple of amazon swords, a couple of good size pieces of driftwood and lightly stocked (3 corys, 4 juvenile, angels & 6 cherry barbs). I don't raise my KH any higher because it also raises the pH and I don't want to go any higher. I'm old school (started in the 60's) and always had a 6.8 pH which converts ammonia to ammonium (safer for fish). Not that I have ammonia but if for some reason I loose a cycle my fish stand to survive. So I'm a bit baffled. With a KH of 0 to 3 and driftwood in the tank, how the heck is my pH staying stable at 6.8? My water seems to be breaking some know beliefs... 😮 P.S. - I can add just enough (very little) sodium bicarbonate to my fresh water to bring the KH back to 3 before it raises the tank waters pH. DANG, didn't know after all these years in the hobby I'd have to learn chemistry for my fish water LOL. 😄

Would the wood cause nitrite spikes?

I'm trying to setup my first aquarium and having a horrible time trying to figure out which fish to get. Our water is hard. PH is 8.4, GH and KH are both 16.8 and I only have a 10 gallon. I do not want livebeares so right now I have no fish.

How do you check for the calcium carbonate in your water?

Y’all never do an acid titration curve? This makes total sense after having taken chemistry

I would love to lower my GH, KH, and PH for my acquarium, water where I live is harder that stone...

Depends on which type of wood your using to determine the ups and down of your kh.

My water ph is 8.0. Kh is 6. Gh is 2. 0 ammonia. 0 nitrite, and 0 nitrate. Been checking water for 3 weeks straight and this is what I been getting. I currently have black skirt tetras(6), neon tetras(6), and about to get 6 Julii catfish. My aquarium is 28 gallons. What’s the best way I can lower my PH between 7 and 7.5 or is my ph fine for these fish?

Can I use a Pine root for drift wood?

Did you happen to rinse, soak or boil that large piece of driftwood?

Where do you get a ph meter

So Carbonate hardness resist PH change in the water? So how someone increase Carbonate Hardness?

My tap water is 7.4 PH. When I do a water change, over 24 hours my PH rises to 8.2. I have driftwood and rocks and plants. It's a 68-gallon tank. Any ideas why it rises?

Hello I need an expert to help me figure it out, is it safe to put burned drift wood inside aquarium that contain fish?? Will the charcoal that remain in the wood harm the fish?? Thank you

I've boiled a piece of wood three times and it still floats. What do I do

What if. Want it in my cichlid tank?

I’m not saying I have high gH and kH, but my water changes are 9 gallons of HCl to one gallon of H2O to get perfect Tanganyikan water... just kidding! (Actually to one quart of H2O... ;) My tanks have lots of botanicals but since I have high gH/kH and keep up on my water changes, I see no difference. :(

My ph has gone from 6.8 to 6 - what should I do???

That pH reader is over $300 is there another cheaper brand that is also accurate?

I just realized I am not going to have plants like ever. My water hardness is out of the roof. Its water changes forever for me.

I have driftwood in my gallon betta tank. I use spring water when I do water change but my ph is 7.6 - 7.8. Is this ok? I have tried a neutralizer but still high. Any help greatly appreciated.

BTW anyone curious about Huon Pine, if it has stopped off gassing, another words "Seasoned" (believe me, you'll know) it is totally fine for your Tank (I have a 90 Gallon, and small 100 liter stock tank) no issues, no real PH impact either

She made a sexy tank scape. Love it.

💓👍💓

👍👍👌👌😍

That's a fine beard you have there

Not my experience. Just makes the water yellow/brown.

The only problem I see here is none of these devices available from Amazon or anywhere else are reliable. There is no way of getting reliable results other than sending soil or water samples to an accredited laboratory which use highly sophisticated scientific equipment. Everything available to home hobbyists is essentially junk.

second

first

Nice video.