Trying to get set up and I think I'm going to have water problems. We moved just ouside of Casselman. The water has a pH of 8.2+ and is nasty. We use bottled spring water but it has a pH of 7.8. I need to get down to 7.0 as my 15g will be a shrimpy. I see lots of pH Down is my cabinet, :D
I find that PH a tad high for bottled water, perhaps trying another bottled water supplier or bulk RO water from Big Als @ .75 cents per gallon is the way to go.
If the Fluval substrate you picked up is been used in this tank, then it should further soften and reduce PH further.
Keep in mind when using any RO water you will need to reminerlise it .
Regards Errol