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Re: Tank chemistry question.
Boris,
>I recently setup a 25 gal tank. It is filled with distilled water
>and being leak tested. What water chem should I set up, and what is
>recommended.
Why are you using distilled water to test for leaks? Tap water leaks
just as well! ;-)
<big snip>
>These are the numbers that I have determined to be correct by reading
>list postings and books. Can anyone please fill in the holes and
>suggest what can be purchased at LFS to attain the right conditions.
There are no "correct" values for the parameters you are asking about.
Aquatic plants and fish will do very well within a fairly broad range
of these parameters. No single value is considered "correct", as that
implies the others are incorrect.
I recommend you use tap water. The odds are extremely good your tap
water is perfectly suitable for an aquarium. If you are in doubt,
check with your municipal water supplier. They will provide you with
a detailed chemical analysis on request. DO NOT ask your LFS about
your water supply. They will not know, but will have an opinion
anyway, usually negative. They want to sell you things.
>Secondly, what are people using for pH buffering??
Most rely on the inherent buffering capacity of their water. Some add
CO2, bicarbonate, and/or Ca and Mg carbonates. Check out
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~aquaria/Krib/Plants/CO2/
for a good discussion. Don't use the phosphate-based buffers sold at
your LFS. They grow algae.
Regards,
Mark