Fish-Keeping Myths?????????

[gomezladdams]

Driftwood lowers ph
seashells raise ph
have a huge bog stump in my oscar tank
have lots of seashells in my mbuna tank
both tanks7.8 ph same as my tapwater after standing 24hrs.

 

[thefishofdoom]

drift wood dose lower PH and sea shells do higher PH but there over prolonged time its not instant and it very little. if drift wood didn't lower ph why the hell would u use peat filters to lower your ph

 

[Zoodiver]

Crushed coral / shells does increase pH. It's the way I control it here at the zoo. My RO water comes out of the tap at 5.5. I raise it (Depending on which tank) to 6.5-7.7 with various amount of crushed coral.

As for fish breaking out of tanks....

Hi, my name is Matt. Now you know me. I have seen it happen in person. Not just walk in see a broken tank a fish on the floor, but actually have seen a fish break glass. It's not the running start that most see in their minds. It's the quick kick of a tail or a lunge at the edge. It's done with the side of the body, not ramming it head on.

I've been knocked out underwater by large fish (arapaima). They have the ability to send waves of vibrations in the water that are strong enough to send you backwards via muscle contractions. I was sent backwards into a rock wall several times, once hard enough to put me down.

 

[dapike1979]

Do you clean there tank's??? are you a zoologist?? Or do you just swim with the fish!!

 

[werdna]

lol nice man.. about the myths nah i dont believe them

 

[astronatus]

Crushed coral / shells does increase pH. It's the way I control it here at the zoo. My RO water comes out of the tap at 5.5. I raise it (Depending on which tank) to 6.5-7.7 with various amount of crushed coral.

As for fish breaking out of tanks....

Hi, my name is Matt. Now you know me. I have seen it happen in person. Not just walk in see a broken tank a fish on the floor, but actually have seen a fish break glass. It's not the running start that most see in their minds. It's the quick kick of a tail or a lunge at the edge. It's done with the side of the body, not ramming it head on.

I've been knocked out underwater by large fish (arapaima). They have the ability to send waves of vibrations in the water that are strong enough to send you backwards via muscle contractions. I was sent backwards into a rock wall several times, once hard enough to put me down.

Dude, I stand corrected. With Matt and Turtall, that makes at least three people here (I think the other one was Guppy) who have had the tank buster thing happen.

 

[Zoodiver]

Do you clean there tank's??? are you a zoologist?? Or do you just swim with the fish!!

All of the above. Design/build enclosures, collect, ship, breed, research, care for, clean......you name, I do it. All in a days for for a zoo keeper.

My latest project: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11940

 

[Ornatapinnis]

I bet the silicone lost it's bond to the glass and caused the seam to split, seams pretty unlikley that a fish caused the tank to seporate.

Hey Matt, why is your ro water at 5.5? Mine is neutral (re + di). I have 100% rejection rate. I would think that if you have anything other than 7.0 it would indicate that something is not being removed. Just curious....

Joel

 

[scottchristian]

about the fish breaking through the glass. i know that glass is very strong against impact directly on the surface, however if there was as much as a small clam or chip in the glass on the edge [ on the bottom or top were you cant see it ] the glass will lose a lot of its strength and could be broken much easier than it would normally.

 

[Zoodiver]

Hey Matt, why is your ro water at 5.5? Mine is neutral (re + di). I have 100% rejection rate. I would think that if you have anything other than 7.0 it would indicate that something is not being removed. Just curious....

Joel

The water here sucks. The first RO system they installed (before my time) is bottom of the line. It's not even set up for a fish/aquatic life system. I have to reconstitute everything and bring the pH back up all while the water is mixing in holding tanks. I have never had to work with a system that is this inefficent. Very time consuming if you ask me. Especially for only 1-2 gallons per hour. I'm used to making 100 or more an hour. The newest one they put in for my new exhibit makes a little more, but hardly enough to keep up with what I forsee myself needing. It runs out at close to 7.0 pH and around 5 gph.

About the tanks breaking: I've seen them break the glass, not just release a seam. Glass is known for it's tiny imperfections. Any little thing can cause a weak point. That's why I prefer acylic. it's so much easier to work with during construction, easier to keep clean, and if someone scratches it, it's easy to smooth out.