question: getting the right pH
- Thread starter hayabusasp
- Start date
Driftwood and peat, pH down. Crushed coral, pH up (not by much).
I think you will be fine with your tap pH. You want to develop a stable consistent environment for your fish, not one that is constantly changing.
I know you are in a hurry, but this tank set up needs to be handled with patience.
If you can, get some media from an established tank; filter pads, spomges, etc. and bring into the new tank. But be sure you are positive of the quality in the tank you are borrowing from. You could also be bringing in disease and other undesirables. Even decor and substrate from an established tank can help. Some people will recommend getting squeezings from filter pads at a petstore, but this doesn't rank up there with my idea of sound advice.
You could get some Bio-Spira, a refridgerated bacteria mixture which allows you to stock instantly. It is expensive, you must follow directions exactly, and you can get a bad batch. Anything else they try to sell you saying it has bacteria to jump start your tank is snake oil.
The cloudy water you see is a normal bacteria bloom from setting up a new tank. It will dissipate. The tannins from the driftwood will eventually go away. But actualy that look is more natural to angels than most like.
You should expect your levels currently to be 0 across the board right now. What water conditioner are you using to remove chlorine/chloramine?
I think you will be fine with your tap pH. You want to develop a stable consistent environment for your fish, not one that is constantly changing.
I know you are in a hurry, but this tank set up needs to be handled with patience.
If you can, get some media from an established tank; filter pads, spomges, etc. and bring into the new tank. But be sure you are positive of the quality in the tank you are borrowing from. You could also be bringing in disease and other undesirables. Even decor and substrate from an established tank can help. Some people will recommend getting squeezings from filter pads at a petstore, but this doesn't rank up there with my idea of sound advice.
You could get some Bio-Spira, a refridgerated bacteria mixture which allows you to stock instantly. It is expensive, you must follow directions exactly, and you can get a bad batch. Anything else they try to sell you saying it has bacteria to jump start your tank is snake oil.
The cloudy water you see is a normal bacteria bloom from setting up a new tank. It will dissipate. The tannins from the driftwood will eventually go away. But actualy that look is more natural to angels than most like.
You should expect your levels currently to be 0 across the board right now. What water conditioner are you using to remove chlorine/chloramine?
Yea your right. Thank you for the clearing this up. I looked back at some of my old breeding records from when I had tanks before and yes I used crushed coral for uping the PH.
Is there a better way to do this?
well im glad that everything will clear up over time, as for the water conditioner, im using an API Stress Coat for tap water. (as recommended by my LFS). but lets say that i get a good used filter, how long do i have keep the filter in my tank before i switch out to a new cartridge? im using a filter that uses cartridges/ screens which hold bio-materials. penguin 350. and the whisper model 30.
i heard that its the cheapest/safest way, but its a pain if you have specifc pH, ( just relying on my source from a guy at my LFS)
desertgoldhound said:
i heard that its the cheapest/safest way, but its a pain if you have specifc pH, ( just relying on my source from a guy at my LFS)
