Is it OK to add more driftwood or rock to aquarium?

[phyl0x]

I have a pretty long driftwood in my tank and need to add another one for more hiding spots for my loaches. I have a variety of yo yo and clown loaches.

Does anyone know if adding more driftwood or rocks will hurt my loaches? What do loaches prefer for PH levels? I also have variety of guppies and platys.

I did a water test 2 days ago and my levels are as listed below:
PH: 8.0 - 8.2 ppm
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 5 ppm

I attached the tests in case anyone interprets it differently.

20140615_200702.jpg

[Compass]

No, more rocks and driftwood will not hurt your loaches. You're good to go.

[Slaphppy7]

Agree with the above...also, you have your nitrAte and nitrIte levels mixed up, you have 0 nitrItes and around 5 nitrAtes

With 5 nitrItes, your fish would be deceased.

[mommy1]

Guppies, platys, will tolerate the low pH the loaches prefer. Your pH is much to high for the loaches. Clown loaches will also grow out of a 55 gallon, they need a much bigger tank.

[Rocksor]

With your PH, I would assume the KH is pretty high as well, above 6 degrees. A single piece of driftwood is not going to produce enough tannins to lower the ph or KH of your 55 gallon tank., especially if you change a portion of the aquarium water weekly.

From tests that I have run, I used peat moss from Lowes, and found that it took about 1 cup of peat moss to 24 cups of water, to lower my KH from 8 to 4 and my PH from 7.8 to 6.8. That 24 cups of peat water (1.5 gallons) was not enough to lower the ph in a 55g tank full of tap water.

[phyl0x]

Appreciate the responses from everyone. I'm growing java moss and anubias nanas in my 20 gallon tank, and took very small portions of it to see how well they do in the 55 gallon .
As far as water changes, I do at least 50% every 1 and half weeks to 2 weeks. I will check how much changes when I add this second driftwood.

I have been looking for a good home for my clown loaches. They are doing amazing, it's just ever since I started using my LED lights, they have been hiding more. I understand they are nocturnal creatures.

[Tetraodon]

We found adding more driftwood made out clowns more comfortable, so they came out more! But yeah, glad you're finding a new home (although every fishkeeper's preference is getting a bigger tank ;) )

Adding driftwood is no issue & will help lower your pH for the loaches (the majority of loaches prefer slightly acidic waters).

Guppies and platys prefer slightly more alkaline waters, but are more tolerant than loaches (in the way that loaches are often still wild caught, and both guppies and platys have been bred in varying captive conditions for years).