I'd like to hear what you guys would do if put in this situation...
I have stupid high PH here. I knew it was high but didn't know HOW high. Well it's that time of the year that just makes me want to pull my hair out. Once again my Armatus are dropping like flies. 3 down, 1 not eating and the runt still seems to be acting normal. I'm not insane, I make changes every year, bigger tanks, more flow, bigger filters, more WCs. This is year 3 of the Armatus plague. Well the rays are just fine as always.
I went and had a water analysis done at the spa shop today. They have a very fancy machine that is very accurate. PH straight out of the tap is 8.5. In the tanks and pond is >8.8. That's right 8.8 OR above. The machine tops out at 8.8 so it may even be higher.
Water dept says 7.5 is what the water at the plant is and think it must be excessive buildup in the pipes.
I'm at a loss as to what to do.
I'm toying with options. I can rent a water softener. I can buy a RO system. I could attempt to knock down PH by adding vinegar in a mixing vat and mix prior to WCs. I'm assuming the mixing vat is present in the RO equasion as well. Leading me to think a water softener may be the best option for I'd be able to keep my drip system in tact, BUT I've also heard negative things about softeners. I don't wanna shock the rays, they are used to this liquid rock water after being here almost 2 years now.
I don't want the rays constantly stressed by unideal water conditions and think the PH may have something to do with my epic FAIL in the Armatus dept.
I've always listen to people saying high PH is fine for rays but where do you draw the line? I've never even heard of 8.8 in a tank, let alone keeping rays in it. I can't imagine this to be good for longterm health of animals from South America which is where all my fish except the Odoe and one Gar come from.
I love Armatus and after losing them year after year nothing would make me happier then to be able to keep even one alive over a friggin year.
Other parameters are total hardness 358. Alkalinity 260. TDS 350. Saturation index 1.8.
Kinda thinking of RO. Start with small WCs with straight RO till I get around neutral then just mix a lil tap with it for WCs then just minimize WCs with a bunch of Pathos under growlights. I'm not worried about cost of an RO system BUT my water bill is allready over $100/mo. Dumping 4 gallons down the drain to get 1 doesn't sound like a winning idea for the currently unemployed.
So help me out guys!!! WTF do I do? What would YOU do? As always my rays, myself, and my almost extinct Armatus thank you in advance for any participation in my attempt to fiz this issue.
I have stupid high PH here. I knew it was high but didn't know HOW high. Well it's that time of the year that just makes me want to pull my hair out. Once again my Armatus are dropping like flies. 3 down, 1 not eating and the runt still seems to be acting normal. I'm not insane, I make changes every year, bigger tanks, more flow, bigger filters, more WCs. This is year 3 of the Armatus plague. Well the rays are just fine as always.
I went and had a water analysis done at the spa shop today. They have a very fancy machine that is very accurate. PH straight out of the tap is 8.5. In the tanks and pond is >8.8. That's right 8.8 OR above. The machine tops out at 8.8 so it may even be higher.
Water dept says 7.5 is what the water at the plant is and think it must be excessive buildup in the pipes.
I'm at a loss as to what to do.
I'm toying with options. I can rent a water softener. I can buy a RO system. I could attempt to knock down PH by adding vinegar in a mixing vat and mix prior to WCs. I'm assuming the mixing vat is present in the RO equasion as well. Leading me to think a water softener may be the best option for I'd be able to keep my drip system in tact, BUT I've also heard negative things about softeners. I don't wanna shock the rays, they are used to this liquid rock water after being here almost 2 years now.
I don't want the rays constantly stressed by unideal water conditions and think the PH may have something to do with my epic FAIL in the Armatus dept.
I've always listen to people saying high PH is fine for rays but where do you draw the line? I've never even heard of 8.8 in a tank, let alone keeping rays in it. I can't imagine this to be good for longterm health of animals from South America which is where all my fish except the Odoe and one Gar come from.
I love Armatus and after losing them year after year nothing would make me happier then to be able to keep even one alive over a friggin year.
Other parameters are total hardness 358. Alkalinity 260. TDS 350. Saturation index 1.8.
Kinda thinking of RO. Start with small WCs with straight RO till I get around neutral then just mix a lil tap with it for WCs then just minimize WCs with a bunch of Pathos under growlights. I'm not worried about cost of an RO system BUT my water bill is allready over $100/mo. Dumping 4 gallons down the drain to get 1 doesn't sound like a winning idea for the currently unemployed.
So help me out guys!!! WTF do I do? What would YOU do? As always my rays, myself, and my almost extinct Armatus thank you in advance for any participation in my attempt to fiz this issue.
