The platy might have a hard time generating enough waste to get a big enough bacterial bed to get all those other fishes' waste under control, but I guess that you'll get through it with the aid of the plants...I don't mess with chemicals all that much, and my tank's been pretty stable with spring and distilled water (read: low KH) being the sole sources of water.
How do you raise KH without raising pH?
- Thread starter yhbae
- Start date
My plan is to add about 2 to 3 fishes every two weeks or so (depending on their bioload) once the tank is fully cycled with platies. I don't mind with this casual pace at all since at least I am introducing _some_ changes to the tank every two weeks.
But waiting for the tank to cycle is another story - my 5 year old knows the next batch to go in is a pair Pearl Gouramies and she asks me about 5 times per day "are we there yet?"... Arrgg I expected this to only happen during a long trip in the car...
Ammonia has peaked, and there's some signs that nitrite may have started to peak, so I'm hopeful...
But waiting for the tank to cycle is another story - my 5 year old knows the next batch to go in is a pair Pearl Gouramies and she asks me about 5 times per day "are we there yet?"... Arrgg I expected this to only happen during a long trip in the car...
Ammonia has peaked, and there's some signs that nitrite may have started to peak, so I'm hopeful...We'll pray for you because it sounds like either you or your daughter will need patience and she doesn't have it!
LOL, I'm 21 and I want to add fish to my life all the time!!!
LOL, I'm 21 and I want to add fish to my life all the time!!!
Yeah, I "estimated" that the tank will be cycled within 2 weeks and she started marking them down in the calendar since day 1. Obviously she knows that we are way over due and getting ancious. If I underestimate our projects at work like this, I would be fired by now... LOL.
I did look for Bio-Spira and none of the Canadian stores in Montreal area had this product...
I did look for Bio-Spira and none of the Canadian stores in Montreal area had this product...
As it is live bacteria, there are some tariffs placed on it.
However, we have another thread "What is bio-spira?" where a member suggests that an internet store will ship to Canada. Maybe it's worth a shot?
However, we have another thread "What is bio-spira?" where a member suggests that an internet store will ship to Canada. Maybe it's worth a shot?
Update:
Thanks to someone who pointed me to the following link,
(http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/khgh.html)
I believe I understand a little better on how KH, CO2 and pH are related.
My natural tap water after 24 hours is 7.0 with KH = 2. According to the chart in the above link, dissolved CO2 is at 6ppm. My tank pH is at 7.6 with 3 platies (still cycling), KH = 3 (due to baking soda). So dissolved CO2 in my tank is at 2. I guess the reason for lower numbers is due to combination of my power filter creating larger surface area to loose CO2 at the surface, plus my plants consuming them.
By the time I am fully stocked, I expect the total CO2 production will go up by 4X. So this should push up the dissolved level to 8ppm+. At 3KH, this implies pH of 7.0 - 7.1, which is more in line with where I want it to be...
So... if I add a drift wood which has been well-drained, it should not affect pH much. Looks like I may be able to end up with pH slightly below 7.0 after all with all fishes in the tank eventually.
Did I make any wrong assumptions?
Thanks to someone who pointed me to the following link,
(http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/khgh.html)
I believe I understand a little better on how KH, CO2 and pH are related.
My natural tap water after 24 hours is 7.0 with KH = 2. According to the chart in the above link, dissolved CO2 is at 6ppm. My tank pH is at 7.6 with 3 platies (still cycling), KH = 3 (due to baking soda). So dissolved CO2 in my tank is at 2. I guess the reason for lower numbers is due to combination of my power filter creating larger surface area to loose CO2 at the surface, plus my plants consuming them.
By the time I am fully stocked, I expect the total CO2 production will go up by 4X. So this should push up the dissolved level to 8ppm+. At 3KH, this implies pH of 7.0 - 7.1, which is more in line with where I want it to be...
So... if I add a drift wood which has been well-drained, it should not affect pH much. Looks like I may be able to end up with pH slightly below 7.0 after all with all fishes in the tank eventually.
Did I make any wrong assumptions?
Fish and other metabolisms respiring CO2 (including BacteriaWorld in your filter) all tend to depress the pH. "Bioacidification."
Photosynthesis of plants, strips away CO2, which raises the pH. "Bioalkalinification?"
So, a lightly buffered, well-planted, moderately clean system "breathes": the pH gently rises and falls over the 24-hour period.
This isn't the same as a "pH crash."
Photosynthesis of plants, strips away CO2, which raises the pH. "Bioalkalinification?"
So, a lightly buffered, well-planted, moderately clean system "breathes": the pH gently rises and falls over the 24-hour period.
This isn't the same as a "pH crash."
Hehe I probably confused everyone when I tried to explain what I had in mind... Got too excited when I finally understood what everyone was talking about, including wetmanNY...
