Leaderboard

Wait a minute. Rain water should be neutral 7.0. Acid rain might have a pH lower than 7.0 due to pollutants - hence the name acid rain. However' date=' we are lucky enough to live in a country that isn't too polluted to have acid rain, doesn't mean it can't happen. Just the likelihood of it occurring is lower. Rain water is however low in GH & KH, making it "soft water" due to a lack in buffering capabilities. It is this soft water nature lacking in buffers that allows the pH in rain water to drop easily in an aquarium due to other factors like nitrification process, peat filter material, drift wood, etc. Creating the illusion that rain water is acidic. It's not, it's right on neutral and it doesn't take much to tip it over to either acidic or alkaline. On another note about adding carbonates ... To raise both GH, add magnesium sulfate (MgS04) or more common know as Epsom Salts. It's used as fertiliser, so your plants will enjoy it. Bicarb/baking soda will raise the pH temporarily, but pH will fall again if your water isn't buffered. MgS04/ Epsom Salts will buffer it a bit more since it also raises GH. I'm not saying Kunzy needs to add anything, since 6.0 is perfect for the shrimp he is keeping. Just another method of raising pH. Reducing pH is a bit more complex as we all know.