Water Quality Question

black crappie

black crappie
Dec 28, 2009
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Yakima,Wa.
Hi There, just thought i would ask another question about water for angels. I live in Yakima Wa. and am on a well which makes my water hard as stone and my nitrates are around 40 ppm. (thats right out of the tap,so water changes do not help in that respect). I have raised angels a long time ago in NJ with fabulous results. But here in YAKIMA THEY SEEM TO NOT WANT TO GROW. I vary frozen food with flake with marginal results. The tank i use is a 125 gal. and no more than 12 fish, plenty of water changes and constant monitoring. I know some people raise angels in hard water, so i rent a water softner but it doesn't seem to help. Any and all suggestions are welcome.:feedback:
 
It's not the hard water that's your problem, it's the 40 ppm nitrates coming out of your tap. I didn't realize that was even legal. I've got super hard well water, too, but the Angels I've grow like crazy. Tank bred Angels nowadays don't have a problem with hard water. But high nitrates *will stunt a fish.
 
Water Quality

Thanks for the suggestion, i have given consideration to chemi pure and will try to see if there is an improvement, as for 40 ppm of nitrate being legal i believe that is over the limit for human consumption, but we live in an agricultral zone in the county and have not been able to find the source. Maybe a chemical filter of sorts may help if i dont go broke affording one.(My well is 210' deep water from 70' down and is shared by 4 familys)
Thanks, black Crappie
 
Lots of plants could help too. I'd be concerned about what else might be in your drinking water & get at least a carbon type filter or multi-stage type.
 
Water Quality

Well i looked into a nitrate filter that makes up to 30 gal. per day, and that one from culligan water costs $1,000! Can't imagine what a whole house unit would be. Chemi-pure costs about $20.00 at my lfs and is good for 55 gal., so i will need two pillows (they are rechargable in saltwater, any comments on these?) Culligan also sells a charcoal filter for whole house and i am looking into this as well. I already have a 25 micron particulate filter on the whole house before my water softner.
I will look into a filter that can reduce the amount of nitrates,and get our water tested at our local lab. Wish my luck.
Black Crappie
 
Water Quality

Thanks for that Fishorama, i went to the site and it looks like the best price. I checked my nitrates this morning and out of the faucet it was 15ppm i was surprised to say the least. Could be the influx of rainwater,or the result of tighter insecticide control.
Thanks, Black Crappie:D
 
there is also a theory that running carbon in your tank filters will decrease your nitrate levels. i tested this theory with a 55 gallon tank that houses 4 good size fish, including (at the time) a 6ish inch oscar. saw a decrease of nitrates by about 10 to 15 ppm. you might want to try that, as it could be the least expensive of options, if you are not already running carbon in the filter(s).
 
Water Quality

To be honest i have not heard of carbon reducing nitrates, but i have been using carbon in all of my canisters faithfully, and changing it regularly.
I know that i am a long way from putting angels in my 125 gal.. but i want wild cross silvers or plain blacklace stds.
Water Quality is going to be the key to success or failure, so any info on water chemistry will be welcome. In a previous post it was mentioned that angels are now being raised an hard alk. water, is this also true for f1 wild cross preuv.? As of now i can't even find any plain high quality standard silvers. I remember that when i was younger silvers were all the rage and blacks were born black with the reddest eyes, nowadays i hear they are silver and color up black as they grow. And as for good old silvers with beautifull confirmation of body depth to fin length are not at all common. My hopes arew not dashed yet, though as i am in the company of all of you, thanks.
Black crappie:popcorn:
 
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