Water Parameter issues

MotionInSilver

AC Members
Nov 14, 2007
278
1
18
I had a 30g est. tank for 2 years had clown killies in it about 50 individuals in the tank, along with BN and panda cories.

Now I dont have anymore as I sold them and kept 2 pairs and they practically faded away one by one within 3 months of selling off my other colony- now I'm kicking myself hard for doing that. I used to add disilled water into the tank.

the water used to be at the PH range of 6.8 and GH 6 and KH 1-3

Now My TAP water has skyrocketted to PH of 7.6, GH of 7-8 and KH of 5


My issue right now as I do not want to deal with cichlids that loves the hard water. I'm nuts with south american fish and I'm trying to figure out how to bring back down the PH

I have currently set up 3 tanks for now.

First tank 20g long has now the CPOs and java moss. they're fine. same parameters of tap water too and filtration is sponge.

2nd tank- 30g. has bunch of plants, PH is 7.4, GH is 11 and the KH is 1

3rd tank- 55g. PH level 7.4, GH is very HIGH 25, and KH 5


all tanks has ZERO ammonia readings.


I'm trying to figure out if I should just put in peat in the filteration for the 55g and see if its worth it and I am going to get a RO water system and see if it would work as well too.

any suggestions?
 
" Now My TAP water has skyrocketted to PH of 7.6, GH of 7-8 and KH of 5 "


I wouldn't bother with messing with the pH.
your pH is only 7.6 with a kh5 and gh 7-8

pretty darn close to neutral


I have water just a tad softer than yours gh6 kh 3-4 I keep discus and wild angels.

my pH is 7-7.2
 
I do not understand why the GH would be so much higher in the 55 gallon. What kind of substrate and media is in there? The other two tanks sound fine for So.American fish.
 
Theres only flourite mixed with sand and I use EHEIM canister filter in that tank- I also have some driftwood in there also along with slate and some rocks.
 
" Now My TAP water has skyrocketted to PH of 7.6, GH of 7-8 and KH of 5 "


I wouldn't bother with messing with the pH.
your pH is only 7.6 with a kh5 and gh 7-8

pretty darn close to neutral


I have water just a tad softer than yours gh6 kh 3-4 I keep discus and wild angels.

my pH is 7-7.2

It was a huge difference from last year's tap water. I know several others that can just do that with their discus and angels- however I do wonder as theres mixed responses about keeping the Altums as I really want to specialize in those.

Cheers
 
The rocks in the 55g must be leaching minerals into the water collumn. It does not make sense the GH would be so much higher than the other tanks, assuming same water source.
 
I agree the tank where you are gaining gh you are leaching something from somewhere in your 55.. I would suspect rocks in the tank.
as for Altums.. they are notorious for having shipping issues ..if you can acclimate them and treat in qt you may be able to keep them.
breeding them is another issue. you will find them nearly impossible to breed in captivity.

I suspect altums would be fine in my water as it is considered soft. if your kH drops below 3 you may run the risk of unstable ph.
beware of the 'Peruvian Altum' it is in fact P.Scalare.
 
It's the TAP water which has got harder, people.

Don't worry. Still good water. Fish aren't picky about pH; it's the second biggest myth after the ones about salt.
 
AquariaCentral.com