I have tap water with a high PH 7.6 and a low GH 40 ppm. Early on I adopted the idea expressed by some on forums that tank raised fish would adapt to area water conditions and that tampering with the water chemistry was not advisable. I have been rethinking this position, and am thinking I should take steps to increase my GH. I know there is a variety of ways to do this, but am not sure which is the best. I do frequent large water changes so whatever method I use would have to work under those conditions. Thanks.
Very soft water questions.
- Thread starter robham777
- Start date
I have mostly CA/SA and some African Riverine species. Breeding is not really a goal, but I do like keeping pairs and is a definite bonus. Right now I have a breeding pair of JD and in the past have bred salvini and carpintis. KH is also very low less than 50 ppm so very little buffering capacity.
I would imagine your pH doesn't remain 7.6 long after entering the tank, due to the lower general hardness (if the calcium component is low).
If it were me, I'd get fish that prefer low mineral content water.
Amazonian species, and many wet African, and certain Asian fish do (Uaru fernadenzepizzii and Altum Angels, as well as many of the Satanoperca Geophagine species come to mind for me, as well as dwarf African and S American, they are those I wanted to keep but couldn't in my high alkaline water.
But if this doesn't work for you, baking soda is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to increase alkalinity.
I'd fill a 50 gallon barrel and gradually add and mix baking soda in, while using some test strips (those made for swimming pools work)to see when the pH and alkalinity get to your desired level.
When perfect, pump it into the tanks at water change time.
If it were me, I'd get fish that prefer low mineral content water.
Amazonian species, and many wet African, and certain Asian fish do (Uaru fernadenzepizzii and Altum Angels, as well as many of the Satanoperca Geophagine species come to mind for me, as well as dwarf African and S American, they are those I wanted to keep but couldn't in my high alkaline water.
But if this doesn't work for you, baking soda is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to increase alkalinity.
I'd fill a 50 gallon barrel and gradually add and mix baking soda in, while using some test strips (those made for swimming pools work)to see when the pH and alkalinity get to your desired level.
When perfect, pump it into the tanks at water change time.
In some ways your lucky, there's loads of fish that will do very well in that water.
Just for information purposes, Bicarbonates are better buffers than Carbonates. Purely because Bicarbonates are the conjugate acid (even though they are infact Alkali in nature) of the carbonate ion, this gives them a greater buffering capacity. Or in simple fish terms they are a more stable buffer.
50ppm kh isn't ridiculously low. So long as your water change schedule is good, it won't really be a problem. As said above, it is best to stock fish that thrive in your water. Messing with water chemistry can be difficult and time consuming. Depending on the specific species of fish you have, some of the CA cichlids might not do so well long term. I can't speak on the African riverine species as I don't know enough about them.