With peat moss I get an initial pH of 6.5 that rose to 7.2 in a day. Then three weeks later ph rose to 8.4-8.8. KH was 4 degrees, gh 9 degrees and those values stayed at those levels for over 2 years.

Neon tetras survive 2-3 years, sliver hatchetfish also.

With no peat moss the pH rose to 8.4-8.8 in a day or two with kh and gh slowly rising over years. Silver hatchetfish survived but neon tetras only last a few weeks. kh was ~20 degrees and gh was 30-40 degrees. TDS pegged the meter.


Those tanks have no water changes, straight tap water, no mechanical filters or circulation.



Just my experience

Worth at most .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden