t3hRobG
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I went to the lfs and was told that the general conditions of my water were fine, however, being the generally untrusting person that I am, I bought a couple of different test kits to find out for myself how things were doing. Much to my dismay, after I had been sold 4 scissor tail rasboras to get the tank started on its initial cycle, I discovered my pH, gH, and alkalinity (as read by the test strip) were all at or off the top of the spectrum. It is a live planted tank with mainly cabomba which I had read was more comfortable in soft water and low/neutral pH. I certainly don't have these conditions, as I found out, but the plants seem to be doing fairly well.
I decided, despite what the lfs told me about my water being fine, I didn't like it being so far off from what I had hoped it would be, so I have started doing water changes cycling in RO water for the treated tapwater currently in the tank. So far I have exchanged about 10 gal (in a 30 gal aquarium) and haven't even dented the figures.
Since my tapwater is out of the picture as a viable source of water, I am left with what can be purchased in jugs. What is a good source of good water? I have tested a couple of different types of offbrand water and found spring water to be nearly identical to my tap water in hardness/alkalinity/pH. RO water seems to be the best, but I am concerned about the nutrient quality for my plants to use such sterile water. I know I can't use DI water as this would cause (if I understand correctly, the equivalent to osmotic shock for my fish). I don't know a lot about aquariums as this is my first setup, but I had enough chemistry in college to at least know the basics in water chemistry.
What can I do short of buying a secondary tank to hold the fish while I drain and refill my 30gal. Is cycling in RO in 15% water changes going to work in the long-run? What exactly am I fighting against in this water and what would be the best type of water to bring in to replace my tap water?
Thanks in advance for your input on this : )
I decided, despite what the lfs told me about my water being fine, I didn't like it being so far off from what I had hoped it would be, so I have started doing water changes cycling in RO water for the treated tapwater currently in the tank. So far I have exchanged about 10 gal (in a 30 gal aquarium) and haven't even dented the figures.
Since my tapwater is out of the picture as a viable source of water, I am left with what can be purchased in jugs. What is a good source of good water? I have tested a couple of different types of offbrand water and found spring water to be nearly identical to my tap water in hardness/alkalinity/pH. RO water seems to be the best, but I am concerned about the nutrient quality for my plants to use such sterile water. I know I can't use DI water as this would cause (if I understand correctly, the equivalent to osmotic shock for my fish). I don't know a lot about aquariums as this is my first setup, but I had enough chemistry in college to at least know the basics in water chemistry.
What can I do short of buying a secondary tank to hold the fish while I drain and refill my 30gal. Is cycling in RO in 15% water changes going to work in the long-run? What exactly am I fighting against in this water and what would be the best type of water to bring in to replace my tap water?
Thanks in advance for your input on this : )