Water Question!!

M

mercsoulja

AC Members
Dec 5, 2005
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Ok, finally i have everything set up the way i want it.... 29 gallon, AC70 powerfilter, pool filter sand, rock caves from left to right.... now the water conditioning comes into question.

I plan on doing neolamp brichardi in the tank, which is a tang species i guess.. I'm not sure yet how many and how of each (male/female). But... My tap water is pH - 7.2, kH - 5, gH - 5

I was told the parameters need to be something like pH ~ 8.6, kH and gH around 8-11... I looked over and understand the homemade water conditioner (epsom salt, baking soda, and marine salt), but i always see Rift lake salts (by Kent or PetCetera) in the LFS's that provide the "ideal" environment for the cichlids. Do they need these extra minerals or is the homemade recipe the only thing i need?

Any help is greatly appreciated! :dance2:
 
Honestly, I would just put a bag of aragonite in your filter and see where that takes you. I have similar water params as you and have a tank of wildcaught shellies. I used cichlid sand (basically just aragonite mixed with black sand). It brings my ph to 8.0, gh to 14, and kh to 5. I do slightly smaller water changes (25% weekly) since tangs like thier stability, but do not add anything to thier water. I've had them a year now and my F1s are now spawning. Why make it harder than it needs to be right?

Also, brichari are hardy, easy to keep fish. Even without altering your chemistry they would probably thrive and breed no problem. They are the only fish other than convicts that I've seen spawn and raise fry in a LFS sale tank. Good Luck
 
ok thanks for the input... so all of those "trace elements" that those brands market (cichlid mixes, etc.) are just a way to get ur $$?
 
Yeah. Your tap water has the same "trace elements" already in it, as do limestone based rocks (araganite).
 
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