Please Please Help

[waterdrop]

Oh dear, all this time in this thread and we've been giving advice based on paper strip numbers??

 

[Curiosity101]

Oh dear, all this time in this thread and we've been giving advice based on paper strip numbers??

^^
Only for water hardness I think.

Gotta say I'm still baffled, and really can only think that something has happened to these guppys some time before they were sent to you. Either poor conditions at the holding site, or poor conditions during transportation.

 

[Sami9999]

WD no. I use an api master test kit and was using tetra gh and kh liquid tests as they were they only ones my lfs carried. I ran out of the drops and the store has been out they have ordered me api tests. So all I was left with was the paper test strips. I have only been using them for a few days. The api tests come in today. Woohoo no more paper strips!!!!

 

[waterdrop]

ok, clear now

 

[Sami9999]

Came home today to a few fry in the tank.

 

[OldMan47]

I always greet new fry in my tank as a hopeful sign. If the adults were not doing OK, the fry would never arrive would they. Be sure to keep a close eye in things because the fry have actually increased the bioload more than you might suspect based on their tiny size.

 

[Sami9999]

I picked up the api kh and gh test. I am a bit confused on how to use them. The instructions say the water should turn from blue to yellow (kh) and orange to green (gh0. The water never turns to either blue or orange just yellow (kh) or green (gh). What shade of these colors am I looking for? Could someone please point me in the right directions with these test. Sorry for the dumb questions but these tests are different than ones I have used in the past. Thanks guys.

 

[Curiosity101]

My kit works in a way where you make up the test solution, and then pipette drops of a reagent into the solution. It starts orange and goes pink. You have to do it drop by drop and swirl the mixture after each drop.

So be careful that you're following the instructions to the letter.

The solutions should be starting blue and orange respectively. And then changing as you put the drops in.

 

[Sami9999]

My kit works in a way where you make up the test solution, and then pipette drops of a reagent into the solution. It starts orange and goes pink. You have to do it drop by drop and swirl the mixture after each drop.

So be careful that you're following the instructions to the letter.

The solutions should be starting blue and orange respectively. And then changing as you put the drops in.

Ya mine start and stay yellow (kh) and green (gh). I followed the instructions and was confused because never saw blue or orange. Not sure why I am not seeing them though.

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmm, I imagine you must be doing something wrong. Even with my super soft water, where the colour change happens on the first drop, I still see the starting colour....

 

[OldMan47]

If your first drop of indicator is giving the final color for GH and KH, you are testing water quite similar to rain water. It has almost no mineral content and will give you wild pH swings as things in your water change. You may be able to use ultra soft water like that for Amazon river delta fish but will not be able to use it for much else.

 

[Sami9999]

If your first drop of indicator is giving the final color for GH and KH, you are testing water quite similar to rain water. It has almost no mineral content and will give you wild pH swings as things in your water change. You may be able to use ultra soft water like that for Amazon river delta fish but will not be able to use it for much else.

I have proper ph 7.5 water conditioner by api. I get a change after six drops for kh now and my ph has held at 7.5 for 30 hours. Added more crushed coral and got a gh reading of 125. Is this okay for the guppies?

 

[Sami9999]

So update on the super soft water. I have a 400 gallon goldfish pond and have never had a problem with my water being soft and my ph crashing. Given the recent issues I have been having with my water I contacted the water company in my city. They advised me that they have started adding water softener. I am not sure what they are using but based on the gh/kh tests its working on over drive. As I said I went out and purchased more crushed coral and some api proper ph to help stabilize my ph until I can find another solution. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas? I know crushed coral and limestone can help make water harder. I also found seachem cichlid lake salt...will this help? I also found information stating that some bottled mineral water would help...not sure any advice? Worst case I can have my mom (who lives about an hour away and has much harder water)bring me water up for water changes. Also will any solutions work for my pond? I have lived in the same house for five years and have always had hard water so this is new to me. Sorry for the long post and need for even more advice.

 

[waterdrop]

Sorry to hear the news Sami, water that is jumping around in mineral content due to the actions of the water people and also due to the aquarist trying to modify things is not usually water that stays stable all the time for the fish!

I guess one of the most prudent things to do at this point would be to gather as much knowledge and information about the topic and try to organize your thoughts and notes. It is lucky you have OM47 as a source, he is quite good to direct experience in the topic and I would always pay attention to his thoughts on the subject. There is also an article that Robby and I wrote that you can read from the link on any post by drobbyb. A good thing to always keep in mind is that stability is very important from the fish's point of view, so always take time out to evaluate any action you are contemplating and think if you are going slowly enough for them.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

I have a link to WD's article in my signature area. If you are dealing with fish that need high mineral content and a higher pH, it is quite helpful.