ugh fish choosing #2 (better explanation)

[Essjay]

To be honest, I'd get the API master kit which gives more accurate results for pH, nitrite and nitrate than strips do - and it includes ammonia which you need to know but isn't on the strips.
You don't need to buy GH and KH testers if your water provider's website gives this info. Look on there - it's a lot cheaper than buying testers.

 

[Sgooosh]

To be honest, I'd get the API master kit which gives more accurate results for pH, nitrite and nitrate than strips do - and it includes ammonia which you need to know but isn't on the strips.
You don't need to buy GH and KH testers if your water provider's website gives this info. Look on there - it's a lot cheaper than buying testers.

Yeah but i have black lava and bdbs. So master kit and water supplier? I will chech the water rn

 

[Sgooosh]

To be honest, I'd get the API master kit which gives more accurate results for pH, nitrite and nitrate than strips do - and it includes ammonia which you need to know but isn't on the strips.
You don't need to buy GH and KH testers if your water provider's website gives this info. Look on there - it's a lot cheaper than buying testers.

Ok i found it. Average 150 for ground water average 100 for surface. We have mixed so 125 is good right?

 

[GobyMaster11276]

Ok i found it. Average 150 for ground water average 100 for surface. We have mixed so 125 is good right?

Is this the GH (hardness)? If so, that is harder than previously thought.

Could your water provider give you a KH/alkalinity reading? If not, then you might need a test kit (although be sure to check before buying one - they aren’t cheap).

 

[Sgooosh]

Is this the GH (hardness)? If so, that is harder than previously thought.

Could your water provider give you a KH/alkalinity reading? If not, then you might need a test kit (although be sure to check before buying one - they aren’t cheap).

this is the hardness, now i know how innacurate strips are lol. i will tell u the alk asap

 

[Sgooosh]

Is this the GH (hardness)? If so, that is harder than previously thought.

Could your water provider give you a KH/alkalinity reading? If not, then you might need a test kit (although be sure to check before buying one - they aren’t cheap).

about 108 alk

 

[Essjay]

Even 150 ppm GH is not hard, it's in the upper part of soft. It is too soft for livebearers, for example. Guppies, platies and swordtails do best in over 200 ppm, and mollies need over 250 ppm.
It is a bit too hard for those few species which really need very soft water, but most soft water fish will be OK in that GH.

 

[Sgooosh]

Even 150 ppm GH is not hard, it's in the upper part of soft. It is too soft for livebearers, for example. Guppies, platies and swordtails do best in over 200 ppm, and mollies need over 250 ppm.
It is a bit too hard for those few species which really need very soft water, but most soft water fish will be OK in that GH.

0k ill add limestone or salt and test it, slowly it will change after every water change

 

[Essjay]

salt

Not ordinary salt, that won't make the water any harder than it already is. It must be special salts made to use in Rift Lake tanks. These are just 2 examples, there are others.

Seachem - Cichlid Lake Salt

seachem.com

Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt

Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt with ProBiotics is a Multi Lake Formula that helps simulate African Rift Lake chemistry.

fritzaquatics.com

 

[Sgooosh]

Not ordinary salt, that won't make the water any harder than it already is. It must be special salts made to use in Rift Lake tanks. These are just 2 examples, there are others.

Seachem - Cichlid Lake Salt

seachem.com

Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt

Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt with ProBiotics is a Multi Lake Formula that helps simulate African Rift Lake chemistry.

fritzaquatics.com

yes i know rift lake salt salt'l just majke the water salty.

 

[Essjay]

Just needed to make sure - and that anyone reading the thread also knows which one we mean.

 

[Sgooosh]

Just needed to make sure - and that anyone reading the thread also knows which one we mean.

yes ppl can learn from my mistake

 

[cherryshrimp]

75 to 150 ppm is soft water. It is too low for livebearers. Guppies, platies and swordtails need over 200 ppm while mollies need over 250 ppm.

Complete and utter nonsense mate.

Do you speak from personal experience? What effects have you seen breeding guppies at 150ppm vs 200?

My guppies Breed prolifically at 125-150ppm (7-8 dgH). They live long lives and produce 40-60 fry like clockwork every 30 days. I have a VERY hard time believing they require harder water.

Do you have personal experience or research to back up these claims?

 

[cherryshrimp]

75 to 150 ppm is soft water. It is too low for livebearers. Guppies, platies and swordtails need over 200 ppm while mollies need over 250 ppm.

Here is the U.S. governments classification for hard water. 75 - 120 is considered ‘moderately hard’ and 120 - 150 is ‘hard’. So, water at 75-150ppm gH is DEFINITELY hard. And 150 does fantastic for guppies, in my experience.

 

[Essjay]

It is well known that water companies in the UK make water sound harder than it really is. Your table shows the same trend as UK water companies.

60 ppm is considered soft by fish keepers, not the upper limit of slightly hard. Even 120 ppm is considered soft, albeit at the upper end of soft, while your table says 120 ppm is on the border between moderately hard and hard.

We cannot use water company words for describing hardness as they are in disagreement with fish keeping.



Seriously Fish does give the hardness range for guppies as 143 to 536 ppm. But other very knowledgable members on this forum state that 200 ppm is the minimum guppies should be kept in which is where my information comes from.