Somethingsfishy001
New Member
I'm keeping livebearers: platy, molly, guppies.
The platy and guppy do ok, but the molly's always have issues. I lose fish every now and again to common livebearer diseases.
My tank parameters have always been good. I use an Api kit. Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 5-10, Ph 7.8, temp 78. Water change 10-30% each week (depending on the tank). Always add bacteria start and dechlorinator.
So I think my issue is the GH. I know livebearers like hard water. (Strange thing is, I asked my fish store what their gh is and they said they dont even monitor it cause its not essential for fish, only for the shrimp).
My tap water GH is 1-2. My tanks are often 3. I have added crushed up shells, cuttlebone, and eggshells. Sometimes I can get the GH to 5, but then my ph is 8.3, which is starting to get a bit high for my guppies.
Currently I have been adding crushed up eggshells, and the GH is at 3, and the Ph is at 7.9.
So my question is how can I get my water to be harder for them without having a PH that is too high for them???
The platy and guppy do ok, but the molly's always have issues. I lose fish every now and again to common livebearer diseases.
My tank parameters have always been good. I use an Api kit. Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 5-10, Ph 7.8, temp 78. Water change 10-30% each week (depending on the tank). Always add bacteria start and dechlorinator.
So I think my issue is the GH. I know livebearers like hard water. (Strange thing is, I asked my fish store what their gh is and they said they dont even monitor it cause its not essential for fish, only for the shrimp).
My tap water GH is 1-2. My tanks are often 3. I have added crushed up shells, cuttlebone, and eggshells. Sometimes I can get the GH to 5, but then my ph is 8.3, which is starting to get a bit high for my guppies.
Currently I have been adding crushed up eggshells, and the GH is at 3, and the Ph is at 7.9.
So my question is how can I get my water to be harder for them without having a PH that is too high for them???