I've got lots of questions. I have had a 40 gallon tank for a year, but just now found this forum and since reading alot of posts, there's alot more to it than I thought.
First off, I have to buy reverse osmosis water from the store, because I have well water, and it's too hard, and too rusty to even drink, so I don't use it in the tank. I just checked and the ph balance was ok, as was the alkalinity, but the hardness was pretty high. It never occured to me that reverse osmosis water would be hard water. Anyhow, I had these test strips, but hadn't used them in awhile. I just found them on the floor behind the tank today. Here's the fish I have: I have 2 gouramies, 2 neons, 2 dano's, 3 Buenos Aires Tetra's and one sucker fish. Are these ok in hard water, and if not, what do I need to do to soften the water?
Is that too many fish for a 40 gallon tank? They are all small fish.
I just found an 80 percent off table at the pet store and got a nice heater and a Penguin bio-wheel filter. I'm thinking of getting a ten gallon going, but I want to make sure before I buy fish, that my 40 gallon isn't too crowded. Otherwise I'll just put some from the 40 gallon in the 10 gallon.
Also would like to get the question answered about the hard water. I want to become a good fish owner, so please be gentle with me...
First off, I have to buy reverse osmosis water from the store, because I have well water, and it's too hard, and too rusty to even drink, so I don't use it in the tank. I just checked and the ph balance was ok, as was the alkalinity, but the hardness was pretty high. It never occured to me that reverse osmosis water would be hard water. Anyhow, I had these test strips, but hadn't used them in awhile. I just found them on the floor behind the tank today. Here's the fish I have: I have 2 gouramies, 2 neons, 2 dano's, 3 Buenos Aires Tetra's and one sucker fish. Are these ok in hard water, and if not, what do I need to do to soften the water?
Is that too many fish for a 40 gallon tank? They are all small fish.
I just found an 80 percent off table at the pet store and got a nice heater and a Penguin bio-wheel filter. I'm thinking of getting a ten gallon going, but I want to make sure before I buy fish, that my 40 gallon isn't too crowded. Otherwise I'll just put some from the 40 gallon in the 10 gallon.
Also would like to get the question answered about the hard water. I want to become a good fish owner, so please be gentle with me...