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Indian almond leaves and nitrite

What kind of water conditioner do you use?

Tap water? is it treated with chlorine, or chloramine?
 
Lcc86 said:
Thank you, I don't have a GH or PH test kit, do need to get one, but have looked up my supply online (see attached).

Have just done my water change and hoovered up any little bits I could see. Will test again in 24 hours and see whether I still have an issue.
Click to expand...

GH at 9 dH is equivalent to 161 (ppm = mg/l) so this is moderate hard water. The KH (Alkalinity) is likly much the same. So there is some natural buffering of the pH. An Indian Almond Leaf is not going to have any effect whatsoever, even several of them. Will add tannins and such, but not mess with the pH.

The diurnal shift in pH is in most natural waters, and in any aquarium with live plants. The production of CO2 during darkness caues the pH to lower, while the use of CO2 by plants during daylight causes it to rise. The difference is insignificant, fish are accustomed to this.

On the conditioner, when the Prime is gone, switch to API Tap Water Conditioner. This has less chemical stuff, and is better for plants. Prime somehow detoxifies heavy metals, but the way it does prevents plants from using these nutrients. Heavy metals that are nutrients include copper, iron, zinc and manganese. API does not have this and is thus better. Also one less substance getting into the fish.
 
Byron said:
GH at 9 dH is equivalent to 161 (ppm = mg/l) so this is moderate hard water. The KH (Alkalinity) is likly much the same. So there is some natural buffering of the pH. An Indian Almond Leaf is not going to have any effect whatsoever, even several of them. Will add tannins and such, but not mess with the pH.

The diurnal shift in pH is in most natural waters, and in any aquarium with live plants. The production of CO2 during darkness caues the pH to lower, while the use of CO2 by plants during daylight causes it to rise. The difference is insignificant, fish are accustomed to this.

On the conditioner, when the Prime is gone, switch to API Tap Water Conditioner. This has less chemical stuff, and is better for plants. Prime somehow detoxifies heavy metals, but the way it does prevents plants from using these nutrients. Heavy metals that are nutrients include copper, iron, zinc and manganese. API does not have this and is thus better. Also one less substance getting into the fish.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, will get a bottle of API (think I used to use that but swapped to prime, can't remember why now). Guess the leaves will just be there to look pretty!
 
Lcc86 said:
Thanks this was a really interesting read!
Click to expand...
More than welcome.

I keep IALs in all of my tanks, for the reasons listed in that article...inexpensive, readily available, and easy to replace when needed
 
Until last year I hadn't used IAL's, but having heard great things I thought I would give them a go.
I purchased online from a well known, reputable retailer and added 4 to a 55 gallon tank. pH fell slightly from about 7.3 to 7.1 over the course of a few weeks, but the water didn't colour up at all. I hid the leaves behind decor and forgot about them.
Soon I began to see more algae and some cyanobacteria, which caused my plants to suffer. Whilst cleaning this up I removed some decor and found two of the four leaves were covered in a white, gelatinous substance. Behind the decor this had gone unnoticed, but there was quite a bit of it.
I immediately removed the IAL's and things soon returned to normal.
Perhaps I got some contaminated leaves or maybe something specific in my tank reacted with them, however, I threw the rest away and won't be putting them in my tank again in a hurry!
I know others swear by them, but after that experience I'll rely on the adage 'If it ain't broke......'
 
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