Another pH, KH, GH Question

Okay, so after reading your posts and thinking back to my tests I went back and retested the pH of the aged water with the High range tester. And tada, mystery solved. The 7.6 I tested b4 was at the limits of that particular test. The high range test inidicated a pH of ~8.2, so combined with the KH of 16 degrees that yields a CO2 level of 3 ppm. So I will probably have to lower my pH some, right? What is going to be the best way to accomplish this with my high KH?

The Persistent Nagger ;)
 
The best way to lower KH is… add pressurized CO2.

Edit: that should be "…to lower pH…", not KH.

If you check out this handy chart, you'll see that if you push your CO2 up into the mid-20s (which is where you'll want it for the plants) your pH at your current KH should fall into the low 7s, 7.2-7.4-ish -- fine for the scalare guys.

Fish can be mighty adaptable but I think 8.2 is still too alkaline for angels. Adaptable to a degree. I think it was WetMan who floated something about some acid-water fish being more susceptible to disease because their immune system relied on the acidity of the enviroment to suppress bacteria. Not a quote (can't find source), just pushing the idea that this stuff is complicated and that while fish can adapt, ideal makes a nice target.

Mixing in RO or distilled water will work to lower KH but it always struck me as mind-bogglingly wasteful and labor intensive.
 
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Thanks Carpguy, now completely off the topic of my original post ;) but this has been bugging me so I have to ask. 95% of what I have read has unconditionally said you can't put 2 male betta's in the same tank. Period. But I read somewhere (I think this was actually in a book or some other printed material) said that given a large enough tank, if you kept 2-3 females per male that you could keep multiple males. Anyone want to tackle this one?
 
Bettas, and most of the other anabantids, are very territorially aggressive. Some more so, others less, but in general very scrappy fish. Given enough space and enough places (obstacles, hideouts, plants, aquascaping) you might get away with it, especially if they were raised together and are used to it. Then again you might not.

I have a 30g and am planning on adding another: one pair of anabantids per is all the excitement I need. There can be quite a bit of aggression just within the pair (they can kill each other, for instance). I'd try the one pair (or small harem) and get to know the fish before you try to get fancy. But it can be done.
 
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