New Multifasciatus Tank

[Matt724]

Hey I finally set up my tanganyikan shell-dweller tank today with a nice 3-d background.

Tank size: 10 gallons
Water Volume: ~6-7 gallons
Filtration: Marineland 100
Lighting: 54watt DIy light canopy
pH: 9.5
Substrate: 2-3" pool filter sand
Heater: 50watt
Decor: 3D background, 14 neothoma shells, 3 other shells
Stock: none yet, soon to be neolamprologus multifasciatus (multies)

I'd like to know if people think that the pH is too high because I used Seachem Lake Tanganyikan salts and that is the pH it ended with. I think I'm going to replace 25% of the water tomorrow to try and get the pH down to about 9.2, but is that still too high? Thanks for any answers.

 

[mike dunagan]

the lake ranges to 9.5

 

[gomezladdams]

Id wait a day to see if the ph settles down.Whats the ph gh and kh of the tap water?

 

[Matt724]

the lake ranges to 9.5

Yeah, I forgot i had my ad konings guide to lake tanganyikan cichlids and he says that the lakes pH ranges in the low to mid 9s but when he suggests a pH for an aquarium he says it should be in the high 7s to mid 8s. I think I'm going to try and do water changes until it gets down to about 9 flat, because I don't want to get multis that have been living in pH water of 7.5 and then try and acclimate them to 9.5.

Mike, what pH do you keep your shell dweller tanks?

 

[Matt724]

Id wait a day to see if the ph settles down.Whats the ph gh and kh of the tap water?

The pH won't settle because I used Tanganyikan buffer salts (more than I was supposed to), but my tap comes out at around 7.2. My tap is pretty neutral.

 

[djm5222]

Yeah... I'd try to get it down as best you can... But as Mike Said... The Lake ranges to 9.5... oh and when you get them... I'd ask the LFS what the pH is in their tank... if it is just 7 I'd acclimate them slow but exact

 

[mike dunagan]

Mine is pretty much 9

 

[duobob]

I think your tap water is fine I'm not big on adding anything not needed I would just use your tap water without the buffer I have kept many tangs including mulites for quite some time in my tap water (PH 8) without any buffers. It makes everythig easier maintance wise as well.