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Re: Seachem Florish and KH question
Bob wrote:
>And what does this Tropical Water Conditioner do?
I was having some trouble with green spot algae on the glass and the
aquarium shop man told me the water in my town contains high phosphate
levels. Since then I have been using a "tap water purifier" then adding
the tropical water conditioner to put back trace elements etc. Its made by
Aquasonic (Aust. made)
The label states: contains mix of trace elements and 9 salts in the correct
proportions. Raises hardness by 80ppm, and salinity by 130ppm. Low salt
(NaCl) content permits culture of sensitive fish and delicate plants."
>Why do you want to increase hardness (GH) and alkalinity (KH)?
I understood that the recommended kH for freshwater fish was between 70 -
170ppm, and gH up to 150ppm for corydoras, loaches. Mine is about 20 -
40pmm for both. I thought I would try and raise both the hardness and
alkalinity. I thought that raising the kH might stabilise the pH which is
normally about 6.8 but with CO2 can get down to under 6.00. And I also
thought it would be good for the plants.
Are you
>keeping rift lake cichlids or livebearers? Then yes, you want it higher.
If
>you are keeping Angels, most killies, South Ammerican dwarf cichlids,
>anabantids, Discus, tetras, or West African cichlids, your water is fine.
I have a 40 gal tank with 4 overhead lights (although 2 stopped working
this week)
The water temp is about 30c (86F) even though I put 2 frozen bottles of
water in during the afternoon/evening. (I may have to do this more
frequently)
Iron about .1 (no more)
Nitrate 5ppm
Ammonia <.1
Home made Co2
Clear water!
Fish = 6 Corydoras, 2 kuhli loaches, 2 plecos, 6 dwarf gouramis
Plants = blue stricta, Giant swords, medium swords, Marble queen, water
wisteria, rotala macranda, Banana plant, ludwigia, hygrophilia, ambulia
Filtration: Fluval 303
25% weekly water change, Daily gro plant fertilizer (Aquasonic), Flourish
sometimes.
Substrate: Riversand with laterite underneath.
I have in the past had big trouble with blue-green algae and have closed
down the tank over the 'wet' season, but I have had it up and running for
about 2 months and apart from a couple of days of green pea-soup water,
have had crystal clear water. In the past though I have had frequent fish
deaths (one or two a week) and I don't want that. I know the heat really
knocks the plants and the fish around. I'm considering buying a chiller,
although today I thought for about the same price I could buy a split
system a/c for the room that the whole family could enjoy.
Help us to understand the reason for doing what you want to do, then we can
>advise you further. If you are raising hardness and alkalinity for the
>plants, again, some plants live in soft water in the wild. Tell us what you
>have in this tank.
>