Water Alkalinity

[strohl71]

Hello -

I use Mardel 5 in 1 test strips to view some of my water conditions. These strips test nitrates, nitrites, total hardness, total alkalinity and pH. My apisto tank water always reads well except for total alkalinity. To be honest, I have largely ignored it until now. My total alkalinity / buffering capacity always reads around 80. The folks at Mardel suggest adding Mardel Buffer Up.

Has anyone out there ever used this product? Are my fish under some sort of stress because of this low total alkalinity / buffering capacity reading?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[tjudy]

I am not familiar with the Mardel products... however, the soft water dwarf cichlids like Apistogramma and Pelvicachromis would probably not benefit from anything that will increase the alkalinity. Most of these fish prefer as close to 0 KH alkalinity as possible.

 

[Randall]

Alkalinity

Hello Strohl,

Many a dwarf cichlid enthusiast would kill for your water! Please treasure it. With an alkalinity level of only 80 ppm, a myriad of soft water species will thrive.

Chemically buffering your water will significantly raise its conductivity. It might be best to simply leave well enough alone.

Good luck!

All the best,

Randall Kohn

 

[strohl71]

thank you. I will leave well enough alone.