I just ordered a R/O unit from culligan. (yes I know I could have bought one for 150 bucks).
Here is my question, My test kit maxes out on 7.6 on pH and the culligan man's pH maxed at 8.6; my tap water maxed out both. Really don't know what my pH is, and I have been told fish can adapt to any pH. The problem I am trying to fix with R/O is ammonia 1ppm from tap and nitrate 10ppm from tap. My tank has 40ppm nitrate, and even with lots of water changes it drops down to 20ppm, then 1 week later is at 40 again.
What I want to do is change 10 gallons a day of water with straight r/o water for about 9 days, to get as close to 90% W/C as I can. I want to end up with is nitrates down to 5ppm or 10pmm, this way if it goes up 20ppm a week I can keep it under 40ppm. What I worry about are the following 2 things, dropping my pH to fast; as I was told the r/o would give me 7.0 pH. The second thing is loosing all the water hardness thus having no buffer for my pH; leaving me open for big fluctuations in pH.
If I do 50/50 (r/o)/tap then I will end up with .50 ammonia and 5ppm nitrate. with water changes like this I could get nitrate down but, will force my tank to go through a small spike for 2 - 4 days each time i add water.
Do I need to worry about pH dropping to fast doing 10G a day? if so what about 5 gallons a day for 18 days. I think I will need to do something about the water hardness, like adding chems. So do you think I need to add chems and which ones.
Or option 2 50/50 & amquel+, right now with ammonia 1ppm from tap a single treatment of amquel drops ammonia to .50 cut that in half with r/o should be .25
If you read all this thank you for your time. I have poor English and newbie fish skills, but boy am I good with computers.
Here is my question, My test kit maxes out on 7.6 on pH and the culligan man's pH maxed at 8.6; my tap water maxed out both. Really don't know what my pH is, and I have been told fish can adapt to any pH. The problem I am trying to fix with R/O is ammonia 1ppm from tap and nitrate 10ppm from tap. My tank has 40ppm nitrate, and even with lots of water changes it drops down to 20ppm, then 1 week later is at 40 again.
What I want to do is change 10 gallons a day of water with straight r/o water for about 9 days, to get as close to 90% W/C as I can. I want to end up with is nitrates down to 5ppm or 10pmm, this way if it goes up 20ppm a week I can keep it under 40ppm. What I worry about are the following 2 things, dropping my pH to fast; as I was told the r/o would give me 7.0 pH. The second thing is loosing all the water hardness thus having no buffer for my pH; leaving me open for big fluctuations in pH.
If I do 50/50 (r/o)/tap then I will end up with .50 ammonia and 5ppm nitrate. with water changes like this I could get nitrate down but, will force my tank to go through a small spike for 2 - 4 days each time i add water.
Do I need to worry about pH dropping to fast doing 10G a day? if so what about 5 gallons a day for 18 days. I think I will need to do something about the water hardness, like adding chems. So do you think I need to add chems and which ones.
Or option 2 50/50 & amquel+, right now with ammonia 1ppm from tap a single treatment of amquel drops ammonia to .50 cut that in half with r/o should be .25
If you read all this thank you for your time. I have poor English and newbie fish skills, but boy am I good with computers.
