hardness and alkalinity question

[noelle]

I'm getting ready to buy some more fish and want to buy tetras. However, I've read that they do best in water that is harder and has a higher alkalinity than mine. I usually get readings of 30-40 rather than the 50-100 that I've heard that tetras to best in. Should I avoid buying tetras because of this and go with fish that do better in water with lower alkalinity levels?

 

[tstenback]

You shouldnt have a problem with tetras in this respect. My water is very soft with KH <5 and ph is 6.2 and all my tetras are doing just fine. Good Luck

 

[yhbae]

I'm getting ready to buy some more fish and want to buy tetras. However, I've read that they do best in water that is harder and has a higher alkalinity than mine. I usually get readings of 30-40 rather than the 50-100 that I've heard that tetras to best in. Should I avoid buying tetras because of this and go with fish that do better in water with lower alkalinity levels?

In fact, your water is great for tetras. Go ahead and get some!

 

[yhbae]

You shouldnt have a problem with tetras in this respect. My water is very soft with KH <5 and ph is 6.2 and all my tetras are doing just fine. Good Luck

Wow, you must have high CO2 level in your water to get pH of 6.2 with that level of KH. My tap water has KH of 3, and my normal pH is around 7.2 to 7.4 in the tank. Nothing leaches out of the objects in the tank...