Hi. At the end of July this year I started a new tank. I had one tank many years ago as a child so I am fairly new. I did lots of research before I started the tank to learn basics.
It is a 20 gal tank, with power filter and an undergravel filter powered by a powerhead. My water is a problem. Tap water here is extremely hard and alkaline so I dilute with demineralized water (75% demineralized/25% tap water). My KH is within acceptable range (although at the high end) but no matter how much water I change or how low my KH goes, my pH will not drop below 8.0. Sometimes it is at 8.2.
I started out with guppies and had no success, from several different stores. I have bought 9 guppies so far - I have two left, a male and a female, and the female is likely to die soon too. They just started hiding in the corner, not swimming around, and do not eat. Someone suggested I try a different type of fish so I bought neons as I have had them before. I bought 6 and 3 have died. The other 3 so far look good, but I have only had them a few days so who knows. And I know I need to get more because they like to school, however, I don't want to keep buying fish to watch them die.
I also have a serious problem with brown algae. It is gross and all over my tank. I have only ever seen green algae before. This brown stuff washes off easy but it grows so fast. I clean the tank weekly, vaccum weekly, change about 25% water weekly (with the vacuuming).
What do I do? I bought some chemical to decrease pH but have not used it yet as I am wary of it. I don't know what to do, and I am getting so discouraged watching fish die all of the time. I don't know why my pH won't decrease with water changes, even though the kH does. And I wonder if I should take out the undergravel filter and just put a regular filter attachment on the powerhead. The water is crystal clear, but the plants (fake) in the gravel get all slimy at the base.
Please help me!!!!!! In desperate need of expert advice.
Thanks.
AJ
It is a 20 gal tank, with power filter and an undergravel filter powered by a powerhead. My water is a problem. Tap water here is extremely hard and alkaline so I dilute with demineralized water (75% demineralized/25% tap water). My KH is within acceptable range (although at the high end) but no matter how much water I change or how low my KH goes, my pH will not drop below 8.0. Sometimes it is at 8.2.
I started out with guppies and had no success, from several different stores. I have bought 9 guppies so far - I have two left, a male and a female, and the female is likely to die soon too. They just started hiding in the corner, not swimming around, and do not eat. Someone suggested I try a different type of fish so I bought neons as I have had them before. I bought 6 and 3 have died. The other 3 so far look good, but I have only had them a few days so who knows. And I know I need to get more because they like to school, however, I don't want to keep buying fish to watch them die.
I also have a serious problem with brown algae. It is gross and all over my tank. I have only ever seen green algae before. This brown stuff washes off easy but it grows so fast. I clean the tank weekly, vaccum weekly, change about 25% water weekly (with the vacuuming).
What do I do? I bought some chemical to decrease pH but have not used it yet as I am wary of it. I don't know what to do, and I am getting so discouraged watching fish die all of the time. I don't know why my pH won't decrease with water changes, even though the kH does. And I wonder if I should take out the undergravel filter and just put a regular filter attachment on the powerhead. The water is crystal clear, but the plants (fake) in the gravel get all slimy at the base.
Please help me!!!!!! In desperate need of expert advice.
Thanks.
AJ