You would probably have to do a more detailed analysis of your water than what any commercially available kit will tell you. Depending on the fish you plan to keep and what you are looking to do, (breeding), it could be beneficial in some cases.
Should this be used?
- Thread starter nickmcmechan
- Start date
Hi, thanks for replies.
Reason I'm asking is my tap water is about 7.0, but has low gH....this is normal here.
So, my TDS is low, I wondered therefore if I would need to use such a product.
Bob, what detailed analysis would I have to do? I have standard test kit and a kH/gH test?
Thanks.
we just use rocks, coral (skeltons), and crushed coral substrate - don't add salt at all, and our PH is good in the tank
i will be using crushed coral and ocean rock too, how long does it take the pH to bring itself up using these buffers.....
suppose that also asks the question, if the water was buffered, then it may raise the water going in to, say, 8.
therefore would the crushed coral and rock raise it even further, or would we simply be equalising the water already in?
suppose that also asks the question, if the water was buffered, then it may raise the water going in to, say, 8.
therefore would the crushed coral and rock raise it even further, or would we simply be equalising the water already in?
Just wondered i've never used it and i'm always cautious about adding things to my tanks unless realy required. If you have a good reason please share it with us.
Steve
mostlycichlids
Cichlid Specialist
The lake salts work quicker almost instantly for me. I do large water changes weekly and IMO the ph/gh difference is too different from the water in the tap and the water in the tank. It takes too long for rocks or coral to buffer the water when new is added. I add the salts during the refill so there is no ill effects of a large hardness or PH change. It also has a lot of trace minerals for the fish to thrive in.
I use it in my Tang tank & it has worked pretty well for me.
I have noticed over the years that when the convo comes up about whether to use that Cichlid Lake Salt or just a more general brand of salt mix, that opinion varies from people who think that adding ANY SALT AT ALL IS FOLLY & A WASTE,...TO PEOPLE WHO USE SALT, BUT DON'T USE THAT ONE B/C THEY SAY IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER SALT MIX, TO PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR OWN CONCOCTION OF SALT MIX, (got that recipe years ago) , TO PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO USES CICHLID LAKE SALT.
I can honestly say that it works well enough for me.
LJx
I find my fish seem more active and "happy" when I use it over when I don't or if I forget...I'm sure they're fine without it but I just assume that it makes the environment closer to what their biochemistry is supposed to exist in....
You would need to test your water for the ingedients that are in the salt mix you are adding and seeif the items are the same and in the right concentration. I feel the additives work best with wild caughts or to cause a color pop or spawning, but not needed routinely. They aren't a big expense and don't see why you can't use them regularly though.
give it a week and then test the PH again. We don't do large water changes so we don't significantly change the PH when doing weekly changes - we change only 10 - 20% at a time
