Recommended pH?

[biofish]

For Acid Buffer are you supposed to dissolve it first in a cup of tank water or are you supposed to just drop it on???

For my tanks with fish I’ve been dissolving a half dose in a cup before adding it every other day so that they didn’t try and eat the particles (had a fish die that way when I dropped a powdered medication directly onto a tank and they ate it on its way down so I haven’t taken the risk since).

And for my current tank with no fish I’ve also mixed it in a cup first but with a full dose everyday. But today I figured “there’s no fish in this tank” and just dropped the powder in directly and it created quite the stream of bubbles.

So I was wondering if I’ve been doing it wrong with mixing it in a cup first…

 

[Byron]

The pH is connected to the GH and KH. CO2 also impacts pH. It is seriously risky to start adding any sort of buffers without knowing these other numbers (the parameters I mean) along with any additives the water authority might be using.

The pH will be what it is according to the GH, KH and additives if any. The GH/KH work to buffer pH, preventing changes. This is why you need to know these numbers before considering buffering agents.

 

[biofish]

The pH is connected to the GH and KH. CO2 also impacts pH. It is seriously risky to start adding any sort of buffers without knowing these other numbers (the parameters I mean) along with any additives the water authority might be using.

The pH will be what it is according to the GH, KH and additives if any. The GH/KH work to buffer pH, preventing changes. This is why you need to know these numbers before considering buffering agents.

Oh! I meant to post in my other thread that is dealing with the ph/water hardness issue! This post didn’t just come out of the blue. Basically in short: the best case is that I get an RO system but I’m hesitating bc my state is in a major drought and it wastes a Lott of water and a solar still is extremely slow. So in the mean time I have water softening pillows, wood, almond leaves, and the acid buffer to try and manage it. I’m planning on getting my water retested tomorrow,to see the effects of everything

 

[Lynnzer]

Water paramaters aisde, the question of centrepiece fish is something that needs a rethink as far as I'm concerned.
It may be well intended as seeing a lovely larger fish, or a pair of them seems to be a nice thing to do. I've done the same sort of thing myself on a few occasions and have backed off of it for now. Regardless of the tank size, you'll generally find that larger centrepiece fish are sort of space wasters. They don't move much, take position that is obstructive to the smaller fish and even normally docile ones can turn nasty.

I've tried various ones from Pearl and other gouramis, dwarf gouramis and even firemouth that are awesome colours and to watch except that the male killed the female and hid in the plants most of the time. Right now I have half a dozen dwarf neon rainbowfish that are so colurful but also just position themselves mid tank and don't move except for an occasional dash after the only female.
On the other hand a shoal or school of smaller fish are nearly always on the move and provide hours of amusement.
My current favourite is my most recent purchase. Golden Tetra. Gorgeous colour. lots of interaction and when you have a good school of them you'll not miss having any other fish.

 

[biofish]

Water paramaters aisde, the question of centrepiece fish is something that needs a rethink as far as I'm concerned.
It may be well intended as seeing a lovely larger fish, or a pair of them seems to be a nice thing to do. I've done the same sort of thing myself on a few occasions and have backed off of it for now. Regardless of the tank size, you'll generally find that larger centrepiece fish are sort of space wasters. They don't move much, take position that is obstructive to the smaller fish and even normally docile ones can turn nasty.

I've tried various ones from Pearl and other gouramis, dwarf gouramis and even firemouth that are awesome colours and to watch except that the male killed the female and hid in the plants most of the time. Right now I have half a dozen dwarf neon rainbowfish that are so colurful but also just position themselves mid tank and don't move except for an occasional dash after the only female.
On the other hand a shoal or school of smaller fish are nearly always on the move and provide hours of amusement.
My current favourite is my most recent purchase. Golden Tetra. Gorgeous colour. lots of interaction and when you have a good school of them you'll not miss having any other fish.

I’ve noticed that with betta fish….. they like to spend a lot of time chilling on plants and not moving very much. My current one snoozes until he sees someone come up to his tank and swims up to stare you down. Not much else. I put food on the tip of my finger and make him give chase to give him so exercise. I’ve found that the more stimulation they have the more activity they have but the stimulation would also be stressful.