- Messages
- 335
- Location
- South Carolina
I am setting up a few 29g tanks to house apistos and will be using rainwater from my new water barrel.
I am wondering what to do regarding preparing the rainwater. Do you just cycle the tank normally or do you filter it through some special media. I saw a thread here awhile back and I got the impression it was no big deal....just cycle and test with some dithers.
Also I tested the rainwater and got some conflicting readings....pH 6.5 Gh about 200ppm and Kh 50ppm. I always thought acidic and soft water went hand in hand (yes I did fail chemistry).
Finally, what can I use to make the water acidic/soft. Will Peat moss and peat pellets with oak leaves be good enough or will this just be short lived? I know there are sauces out there, but how safe are they for the fish in the long run?
My tap water used to be just right for dwarf cichlids, but something has changed this last year.
Thanks you for any input.
george
I am wondering what to do regarding preparing the rainwater. Do you just cycle the tank normally or do you filter it through some special media. I saw a thread here awhile back and I got the impression it was no big deal....just cycle and test with some dithers.
Also I tested the rainwater and got some conflicting readings....pH 6.5 Gh about 200ppm and Kh 50ppm. I always thought acidic and soft water went hand in hand (yes I did fail chemistry).
Finally, what can I use to make the water acidic/soft. Will Peat moss and peat pellets with oak leaves be good enough or will this just be short lived? I know there are sauces out there, but how safe are they for the fish in the long run?
My tap water used to be just right for dwarf cichlids, but something has changed this last year.
Thanks you for any input.
george