Limestone question.

[tjfish]

I have several decent size chunks of limestone (since thats most of what you can find naturally aound here) that i was thinking i could use to build a pretty cool "rock shore" look in the corner/end of my 55 gallon.
I realize that limestone will leach calcium etc into the water raising the hardness of the water.
My question is how quickly will it leach and how big of an impact will it have on the hardness.
This tank is housing/is going to house a mixed bag of smaller cichlids.
It is sand/rock substrate with 3 pieces of driftwood and may have a few plants at some point.
Filtering is 2 HOB one of which is an emperor 400 biowheel the other just an oddball lol.
Anyway, just wanting to get an idea how big of an impact the limestone will have since i've never actually used it in an aquarium other than african tanks where i wasnt worried too much about hardness.

 

[oscaroo]

They might make a chemical that makes your water softer

 

[tjfish]

I have read about several ways to lower the hardness of aquarium water, but what im wanting to find out is if it will really be an issue based on how fast or slow it will leach the minerals.

 

[joe jaskot]

Adding limestone to a fish tank is the same as adding crushed coral. It will buffer the water and raise the pH and hardness.

 

[tjfish]

hmmm. going to have to do some research on the tolerance of various cichlids to hard water. I know most africans thrive in hard high ph water, but i dont believe the south americans would fare so well..

 

[Gill Blue]

how fast depends on and quantity of chunks, current pH, water movement and temp. any decent amount would noticeably increase the pH.
You're correct on the fish/hardness. SA like soft, africans like it hard.
if that's your typical local stone, local fish would be a good choice, if legal.

 

[wantokeeptrout]

i know a number of CA Cichlids are tolerant and even live in alkaline hard water, but i guess not many could fit in a 55

 

[Oddball]

Suggestions on how to lower your hardness/pH will prove futile so long as the limestone remains in the tank. If you try to lower hardness/pH chemically, the limestones response will be to dissolve more quickly. If your tap water is naturally acid and/or soft, boost your aeration during and after water changes since the initial chemical change leach from the limestone will also release alot of CO2 until the system balances out again.

 

[Jc1119]

Suggestions on how to lower your hardness/pH will prove futile so long as the limestone remains in the tank. If you try to lower hardness/pH chemically, the limestones response will be to dissolve more quickly. If your tap water is naturally acid and/or soft, boost your aeration during and after water changes since the initial chemical change leach from the limestone will also release alot of CO2 until the system balances out again.

yes......

just find some river rock or driftwood instead IMO, or keep africans. I have about 300 pounds of limestone in my mbuna tank and they love it.

 

[tjfish]

Ya i thought about makin it africans instead but i have been leaning toward smaller S. americans so i could add my couple of small catfish in with them. and have some plants. I still actually really like the idea of having an african tank again which may be better for the 55 gallon size wise anyway.