In hindsight, how would you guys of recommended to stock my tank?

[AmyKieran]

And my favoutite cheese has holes in it. Not recommended for a tank though.
View attachment 161010
As for the question, and as an afterthought to my own setting up in the hobby, I think it's always best to go with whatever fish you like in the size and other attributes, that suit your local water supply.
The amount of faffing about trying to get water to suit the fish is akin to the 1st steps to insanity.

Ide agree with you but I don’t have a hobby, I don’t work because I care for my sick wife , so I don’t have really anything to do for a lot of the day. Faffing around with fish tank water is actually what keeps me sane

 

[itiwhetu]

You need to have your tanks substrate in limestone. If you want to buy salt and buffers to keep this tank going that is fine, at least it will look cool with black sand or whatever.

 

[Colin_T]

So that being said, am I just to keep an eye on gh incase it raises too high?

The GH won't go too high with limestone in the tank.

 

[AmyKieran]

The GH won't go too high with limestone in the tank.

Okay, could you suggest what else to try in my filter? As crushed coral isn’t working? I swear someone said argonite but I could be wrong

 

[itiwhetu]

These fish come from lakes with a limestone base. Hint hint.

 

[AmyKieran]

You need to have your tanks substrate in limestone. If you want to buy salt and buffers to keep this tank going that is fine, at least it will look cool with black sand or whatever.

Yeah I think the trade off for me would be too much. I think limestone substrate + limestone rock would just make the tank look silly. I’ll try and change my filter media, and also try the stuff under the substrate that @Wills mentioned too.

 

[itiwhetu]

Yeah I think the trade off for me would be too much. I think limestone substrate + limestone rock would just make the tank look silly. I’ll try and change my filter media, and also try the stuff under the substrate that @Wills mentioned too.

 

[itiwhetu]

 

[AmyKieran]

View attachment 161013

Just to clarify the rocks I have in my tank are limestone aren’t they?

 

[itiwhetu]

Just to clarify the rocks I have in my tank are limestone aren’t they?

I have no idea, but the substrate won't be adding anything to the tank. If you won't to buffer this tank naturally you will need to have a limestone substrate.

 

[AmyKieran]

I have no idea, but the substrate won't be adding anything to the tank. If you won't to buffer this tank naturally you will need to have a limestone substrate.

As much ide like to for the chemical properties, I really don’t like the look of it. Ide rather get black sand and use buffers. Or if I can find something else to put in my filter to atleast help. I currently use this :

CaribSea Aragonite Seafloor Special Sand

White sand substrate Aids biological filtration Can be used in aquariums that require high pH levels

www.swelluk.com

But I’ve had it in for months and it’s done nothing. Maybe switching to coral shells or something else might help? Even if it’s not going to raise it completely.

The more anything raises it (even by a little) the less buffer I need to use

 

[Colin_T]

You could use lime sand for marine tanks, it's very fine white sand. But then there's going to be lots of white.

What about using a Rift Lake water conditioner and buffering the water with that?

This is what I used except I bought 10 litre buckets of it. If you could find something similar, use that and coloured gravel.

Aquasonic Riftlake Water Conditioner 500g - Australian Made

Shop The Tech Den Australia for a wide selection of aquarium products including Aquasonic Riftlake Water Conditioner 500g. Enjoy fast flat rate shipping. Orders ship in 1-2 days..

www.thetechden.com.au

 

[AmyKieran]

You could use lime sand for marine tanks, it's very fine white sand. But then there's going to be lots of white.

What about using a Rift Lake water conditioner and buffering the water with that?

This is what I used except I bought 10 litre buckets of it. If you could find something similar, use that and coloured gravel.

Aquasonic Riftlake Water Conditioner 500g - Australian Made

Shop The Tech Den Australia for a wide selection of aquarium products including Aquasonic Riftlake Water Conditioner 500g. Enjoy fast flat rate shipping. Orders ship in 1-2 days..

www.thetechden.com.au

But wouldn’t this just do the same as my rift lake salts + Malawi buffer?

I already achieve kh of 9+, gh of 15+ and ph of 7.6+ using lake salts and Malawi buffer

 

[Lynnzer]

Ide agree with you but I don’t have a hobby, I don’t work because I care for my sick wife , so I don’t have really anything to do for a lot of the day. Faffing around with fish tank water is actually what keeps me sane

I totally get that as I have a similar situation here.

 

[Colin_T]

But wouldn’t this just do the same as my rift lake salts + Malawi buffer?

I already achieve kh of 9+, gh of 15+ and ph of 7.6+ using lake salts and Malawi buffer

probably.

i didn;'t know you were using the rift lake salts, but it you are, use them and dark gravel.