Water chemistry question

[scottb721]

Some info first. The Africans I keep are Taeniolatus', Eletric Blues and Yellows and some Peacocks.
I'm setting up an 2nd tank and also want to start getting water chem correct. I haven't worried too much before.

Initial water chem on new tank (straight from the tap),
pH 7.8
GH 107.4ppm
KH 35.8

I added 5 teaspoons (1/2 the recommened dose for 20G tank) of a Rift Lake Conditioner (aussie made version)

Went back later and rechecked chem

pH 8.0
GH 214.8 ppm
KH 53.7 ppm

What should I add to raise the pH and KH without affecting the GH ? Sodium Bi-carb ?

To back up these results, when I purchased the product earlier this year I dosed my 70G tank with the recommended amount, the pH and KH hardly moved whilst GH soared. These new results mirror the earlier findings.

Thankyou in advance for any help/advice offered.

 

[mrV]

So you have malawis..

want to start getting water chem correct

Analysis of water from malawi lake: http/www.drak.de/Produkte/Duradr_M.html

As you can see, GH isn't very high - it's more soft than hard. Important factor is conductivity. When changing water parameters, you should measure conductivity. Then you know how much different salts you need to add that you get right conductivity.

pH ~ 8,5
GH ~ 4,5
KH ~ 6,5
conductivity ~ 241 µS/cm

When you scroll down the page I linked, you find topic "Zusammensetzung". There is list of suitable salts, that you need when changing water parameters.

 

[scottb721]

Hi mrV
Thankyou for your input and the link.
The instructions for my AquariumPharmecuticals GH/KH test kit recommend 11,0 - 22,0 for both GH and KH for Rift Lake Cichlids.

Would this be leading me astray ?
This site seems to say around 10.0 for both
Malawi Cichlid info


How is conductivity measured and how does it indicate which salts need to be added and how much ?

Finally, is there an english equivalent of the information contained in that link?

Thanks again,

Scott
Australia

 

[mrV]

The instructions for my AquariumPharmecuticals GH/KH test kit recommend 11,0 - 22,0 for both GH and KH for Rift Lake Cichlids.

Sounds more Tanganyika lake than Malawi.

Specs from lake of Tanganyika:
pH ~ 9
KH=17
GH=10
cond. 625 µS/cm

All those lakes, Vic., Mal, Tang. has different water parameters. So you cannot say that "these values" are ok for those every lakes.

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/afcichlids.html

How is conductivity measured and how does it indicate which salts need to be added and how much ?

By meters. Hanna Instrument has good pocket, low-cost meters. When water contains ions, like Cl-, it conduct electricity. When adding more salts, electricity ingreases.

How much? It a difficult question, because it depends on your tap water. Only way is to use conductivity-meter. When conductivity is right, then you have added enough salt(s).

 

[bgraber]

So it's the salt that's necessary? Any approxamate amounts per us gal? And would my standard "volt meter" measure conductivity?
*just found this site.. http/wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow/under/paramete...nductivity.html
It's funny how I haven't really heard this mentioned much.. How condusive it it to have healthy fish? Is aquarium salt with a aragonite base sufficient for a tanganyikan setup?
$200+ for this probe? Yikes
Just found this link as well.. http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/buff...ffer_recipe.php Looks good to me.. ?

 

[semper fi]

i add one well rounded tablespoon for every five gallons of water for my africans. do not any of the other rift lake additives. also if you add salt to your tank, do not add any scaleless fish to the tank as it can burn them. after water changes used to prescribed dosage on the abount of replacement water only.

 

[scottb721]

The fish we buy are no doubt many generations away from the fish that actually came from the African lakes.

Does this mean that the fish we buy care little for Rift Lake water conditions and are more accustomed to water from their new environment ?

 

[semper fi]

the majority of lfs' do not use chemicals in species tanks as they are all on a central fill and filtration system. personally, i do not add the chemicals as i have found that when you mess with the water you do have to be extremely careful and knowledgeable about what you are doing.

since the fish that you find at lfs's are not wilds, the use of chemicals, imo, is unimportant. they are already accustomed to the absence of the chemicals.