Critter Mom
New member
I have checked the parameters of my water with the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It showed the following going on in my 10 gallon aquarium on 7/30/2009:
pH: 8.0-8.2
Ammonia: 0-0.25 ppm (mg/L)
Nitrite: 0 ppm (mg/L)
Nitrate: 0-5.0 ppm (mg/L)
What is the pH supposed to be for C. Orientalis? I think it is supposed to be between 7.0-7.2 pH. Is that correct?
When I have a range for the data, it is because the color seemed in between the ones on the chart, so the actual numbers fall somewhere in between that range.
How do I lower the pH safely? The test kit recommends a chemical means to do so by using API's pH Down. The book Newts and Salamanders by Devin Edmonds says that it should be lowered by "placing a bag of peat moss in the filter". Is this the kind the Dollar Tree sells, or is that sphagnum moss (is there a difference)? How much do I use? Is the bag he is talking about a cheesecloth, or do I need to make a special bag? I am sorry if I sound stupid or ask so many questions.
Is this pH problem maybe why the newts sometimes panic when they are in the water and generally stay out of it? They have only been in their mostly aquatic setup for about a week or slightly less now.
Thank you,
Critter Mom
pH: 8.0-8.2
Ammonia: 0-0.25 ppm (mg/L)
Nitrite: 0 ppm (mg/L)
Nitrate: 0-5.0 ppm (mg/L)
What is the pH supposed to be for C. Orientalis? I think it is supposed to be between 7.0-7.2 pH. Is that correct?
When I have a range for the data, it is because the color seemed in between the ones on the chart, so the actual numbers fall somewhere in between that range.
How do I lower the pH safely? The test kit recommends a chemical means to do so by using API's pH Down. The book Newts and Salamanders by Devin Edmonds says that it should be lowered by "placing a bag of peat moss in the filter". Is this the kind the Dollar Tree sells, or is that sphagnum moss (is there a difference)? How much do I use? Is the bag he is talking about a cheesecloth, or do I need to make a special bag? I am sorry if I sound stupid or ask so many questions.
Is this pH problem maybe why the newts sometimes panic when they are in the water and generally stay out of it? They have only been in their mostly aquatic setup for about a week or slightly less now.
Thank you,
Critter Mom
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