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Aquarium Advice Addict
Ok- so I have well water. My pH tests at about 7.8-8.0 in my tank. I have driftwood in the tank, and peat moss in the filter. The peat isnt making a difference so im going to remove it.
pH straight from tap is 7.4, and after 24 hours of sitting on the counter and me stirring it up it tests at 7.8-8.0.
My alkalinity (water hardness) tests very high on the LFS paper test. I don't have a liquid test for that.
Nitrates in my tap water test at 40-80ppm.
I use the API master test kit.
In an effort to reduce the nitrates naturally occurring in my water, the water hardness, and the naturally high pH, I am thinking about mixing RO water and my tap. I do not want to use chemicals like pH down or any chemical nitrate remover.
As part of my tank maintenance I do a 10-15 gallon pwc every week. That's when I vacuum the poo and debris off of the sand and wipe down the glass to remove any diatoms or algae or whatever might be trying to grow on the glass.
If I take out 10 gallons of water and replace 5 gallons with tap water and 5 gallons with RO water, will this bring down my pH, alkalinity and nitrates? Eventually my entire tank would be half RO and half tap water.
I'd like to get more neon tetras and more rummy nose tetras (if I can find more). My ammo and trites are good. They've been testing at zero for nearly a month now. When I add new fish half of them die. I can only think it's my pH and alkalinity.
Tank info: 55 gallon planted tank
Filtration: Marineland emperor 400
Inhabitants: 2 rummy nose, 4 neons, 4 variatus, 5 male endlers, 3 ghost shrimp, 2 zebra nerite's
pH straight from tap is 7.4, and after 24 hours of sitting on the counter and me stirring it up it tests at 7.8-8.0.
My alkalinity (water hardness) tests very high on the LFS paper test. I don't have a liquid test for that.
Nitrates in my tap water test at 40-80ppm.
I use the API master test kit.
In an effort to reduce the nitrates naturally occurring in my water, the water hardness, and the naturally high pH, I am thinking about mixing RO water and my tap. I do not want to use chemicals like pH down or any chemical nitrate remover.
As part of my tank maintenance I do a 10-15 gallon pwc every week. That's when I vacuum the poo and debris off of the sand and wipe down the glass to remove any diatoms or algae or whatever might be trying to grow on the glass.
If I take out 10 gallons of water and replace 5 gallons with tap water and 5 gallons with RO water, will this bring down my pH, alkalinity and nitrates? Eventually my entire tank would be half RO and half tap water.
I'd like to get more neon tetras and more rummy nose tetras (if I can find more). My ammo and trites are good. They've been testing at zero for nearly a month now. When I add new fish half of them die. I can only think it's my pH and alkalinity.
Tank info: 55 gallon planted tank
Filtration: Marineland emperor 400
Inhabitants: 2 rummy nose, 4 neons, 4 variatus, 5 male endlers, 3 ghost shrimp, 2 zebra nerite's