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New to soft water, acidic tanks!

Jon E

New Member
Messages
11
Location
Alberta, Canada
HI all!
I'm very new to Apistos, but absolutely infatuated. I am currently attempting to breed A. Agassizii Gold Blaze and have plans to set up a large tank/colony with the strain of Macmasteri that is often called "viejita gold red". I will be using RODI water, dosing with seachem's alkaline and acid buff because my city very hard, 8.2ph water coming out of the taps. Any advice with using those buffs will be helpful, as right now I am premixing my water for water changes, but it is taking more acid buff then seachem says is necessary to hit and stay at the target ph.
 

dw1305

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
2,755
Location
Wiltshire UK
Hi all,
I will be using RODI water, dosing with seachem's alkaline and acid buff because my city very hard, 8.2ph water coming out of the taps. Any advice with using those buffs will be helpful, as right now I am premixing my water for water changes, but it is taking more acid buff then seachem says is necessary to hit and stay at the target ph.
<"You don't need the buffers">. I have a bit of an issue with Seachem's advertising, it often seems designed to obscure what their products contain and how they work.

Is it a planted tank? and do you have a conductivity (TDS) meter?

cheers Darrel
 

Jon E

New Member
Messages
11
Location
Alberta, Canada
What would be the best way to proceed?
Right now I am thinking of setting up a non planted breeding tank (10g) and putting in leaf litter, a couple caves, some driftwood and sand substrate, maybe some Moss.
Would I put straight RO water into that? should I add any trace nutrients?
 

dw1305

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
2,755
Location
Wiltshire UK
Hi all,
@dw1305
yes, I have a TDS, and it is a planted tank........
Would I put straight RO water into that? should I add any trace nutrients?
If you add enough nutrients to keep you plants growing that should give you enough ions.

If anyone, or any advertising, talks about "pH stability", they don't understand pH or they are trying to sell you something you don't need. pH will always vary in soft water, it happens in our tanks and it happens in the wild.

If you want to add a little bit of dGH/dKH you can use your tap water, you won't need very much. The humic substances from leaf litter etc may also be important in maintaining plant health.

Have a look at the <"Duckweed Index">, it is a simple technique that makes water management easier.

You can use the conductivity meter, I aim for the range 80 - 150 microS (~55 - 100 ppm TDS).

cheers Darrel
 

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