[APD] CO2 Needle Valve -- or - Rolling down reasons for solenoids

[Andrew McLeod <thefish at theabyssalplain_freeserve.co.uk>]

> It is for me. I add CaCO3 and baking soda to raise the the
> KH an GH up to about 4. That's still soft, wouldn't you
> say? The water from the tap is about 1 or 2 degrees GH and
> KH.

Good to know that quite soft water is still stable with constant CO2 
additions. Is that soft enough for a really soft blackwater 
Amazonian-style thingy? (I don't know). I would like to create an 
Amazonian biotope one day, with tetras, otos, ancistrus and some plants 
(Amazon swords is all I know come from the Amazon so far), but I must be 
the most researched newbie ever, as I have been reading every post on this 
list for about 3-6 months (I forget how long), and will probably not set 
up a plant tank for another 6-12 months.
Just one question - how do people make big water changes? What do you do 
with 30 gallons of water when you're trying to warm it up? Do you need two 
buckets so you can empty and refill, and does the drop in water level (and 
thus turning off of all pumps and heaters) during changes not matter? Any 
advice for the experience-challenged but happily researching newbie?
PS I would buy Tom Barr's book too.
Only thing I am worried is that I receive forty thousand plant 
suggestions, and spend the next six months looking them up on the 
Internet! (not that I would mind)

--
Andrew McLeod
thefish at theabyssalplain_freeserve.co.uk
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