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Re: Vermiculite/soil mix & PH problems?
> From: The Mermaid <jfredian at pepperdine_edu>
>
> I'm using the vermiculite/soil & small grain gravel mixture
> as substrate on my 40g tank. I was finally able to get
> a high range PH test kit last night, and upon testing the
> water, the PH of the tank was WAY above what my tap water
> and my 10g tank are. The 10g and tap water both read the
> same, at around 7.5 ... my 40g reads ~8.0 (purplish in
> color, as opposed to orangish).
>
> I haven't had a chance to test the soil alone yet (being
> as I pull 100+ hours/week, I'm not home much), but I'm
> wondering if anyone else has had any problems with this
> mixture and their PH levels.
Yes but it has mainly been with gravel containing sea shells.
Soil could be heavily alkaline too. Vermiculite is supposed to
be pretty neutral. Driftwood has often caused problems with pH
for some folk.