3 Gallon tank Woes

M

Mr Fish

AC Members
Sep 14, 2005
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I'm going to switch, hopefully in a week or two, to a 10 gallon tank. Until then...

I had the system at home and moved it to work. It has 2 African dwarf frogs and a Amino shrimp who all get along.

At home tap water has a PH of 7.2
At work, tap water runs OVER 8.0 and I have Ozarka water which runs below 6.5. The worktap water was tested for nitrates. It didn't have any.

I'd been using the tap water and changing about 2 cups a water a day (which I've slowed down on). The water had a smell to it and wasn't clear. It's ok now.

The PH of the tank is over 8.0, even with me using the low PH Ozarka water.

Questions: Do I need to put in some minerals back into the water for the fish? I've been using Kent Freshwater essentials and putting in a few drops. Also using Plant GRO Iron Enriched, few drops.

I have about 7 plants in the tank, it's pretty dense with plant life.

- Are the plants sucking up the CO and raising the PH? Will this high PH hurt the inhabitants for a few more weeks? If I get a CO system (with the new 10 gallong tank) will that stabalize the PH? Will I want to use a mix of work tap water (8.0+ PH) and the Ozarka water (Low PH) and suppliment with minerals?

Thanks
 
Telecubby, at least include a little advise in your posts to justify the use of the wandwidth.

Do I need to put in some minerals back into the water for the fish?
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No, unless you use the Ozarka exclusivley then you should not have to add anything to the water (other than ferts). Regular tap water has all the essential elements your fish need. I'm guessing the Ozarka is reverse osmosis water, which means it will take on the ph of whatever water you add it to. That's probably why your ph is still above 8.

Are the plants sucking up the CO and raising the PH?
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I'm not sure, but I don't think so.

If I get a CO system (with the new 10 gallong tank) will that stabalize the PH?
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Unless it is a fancy system that constantly monitors ph and adjusts the amount of co2 being injected, then no. If it is one of the low tech yeast reactor systems it will probably cause some ph shifts as the level of co2 being generated waxes and wanes.

Will I want to use a mix of work tap water (8.0+ PH) and the Ozarka water (Low PH) and suppliment with minerals?
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I would forget about adding minerals (Water with a high ph usually has all the minerals you'll ever need). Using a mix of the two types would be my approach. Just make sure the mix is consistant. I'd go with 50/50 just cause it's easy. Whatever the ph settles at just let it be. I'm sure you've heard that a stable ph beats a perfect ph every time. The more stuff you do to try and adjust your ph, the more chance that you will cause large ph shifts (that's what hurts fish).

Sounds like a nice little desktop set up. Kudos for not overstocking it.
 
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