Hi All,
For the last couple of weeks I've been obsessively reading this great forum (and other materials) about setting up a tropical freshwater aquarium and I am excited to get going for real. I just want to have some questions answered definitively (mostly so I can get some sleep).
I'm about the acquire this tank EVO - 135litres equates to roughly 35 of your US gallons. I already think this is too small but I have little space to increase.I want everything and know that I can barely have anything.
Anyway... I popped to the local generic pet store and picked up a test kit - Tetra 6 in 1 Tests £10.99 - Buy Test kits Accessories . It's not the most accurate piece of technology but it seems to suggest that my PH is between 8.0 and 8.4, my gH around 16oD and kH that doesn't even register on the scale (it's purple - I assume that means it's very high).
1. how much should I take from a cheap test kit like this using water straight from the tap?
I've read that the hardness drops after cycling, if it does - is the amount significant?
2. I know that the wrong pH and hardness is detrimental to the health of the fish, but am I significantly shortening its life /happiness by keeping it at undesired levels (e.g. a quite hardy fish with suggested conditions are 7-7.5ph (I will avoid fish that are softwater-acidic)).
3. Is it worth getting an RO unit to compensate for the hardness - £60-£70 ($100ish) would be acceptable at the moment..Is there anything suitable?
4. What fish do you recommend for my tank with these conditions? I seem to change my mind about what I want every other day - In an ideal world I would like some dwarf ciclids (apistogramma, kribs, rams) or something as a centrepice with some tetra, I also like gourami (i'll finish there before I get carried away). I know my suggestions are not sensible but some suggestions would go a long way.
Thanks for all your help
Graham
For the last couple of weeks I've been obsessively reading this great forum (and other materials) about setting up a tropical freshwater aquarium and I am excited to get going for real. I just want to have some questions answered definitively (mostly so I can get some sleep).
I'm about the acquire this tank EVO - 135litres equates to roughly 35 of your US gallons. I already think this is too small but I have little space to increase.I want everything and know that I can barely have anything.
Anyway... I popped to the local generic pet store and picked up a test kit - Tetra 6 in 1 Tests £10.99 - Buy Test kits Accessories . It's not the most accurate piece of technology but it seems to suggest that my PH is between 8.0 and 8.4, my gH around 16oD and kH that doesn't even register on the scale (it's purple - I assume that means it's very high).
1. how much should I take from a cheap test kit like this using water straight from the tap?
I've read that the hardness drops after cycling, if it does - is the amount significant?
2. I know that the wrong pH and hardness is detrimental to the health of the fish, but am I significantly shortening its life /happiness by keeping it at undesired levels (e.g. a quite hardy fish with suggested conditions are 7-7.5ph (I will avoid fish that are softwater-acidic)).
3. Is it worth getting an RO unit to compensate for the hardness - £60-£70 ($100ish) would be acceptable at the moment..Is there anything suitable?
4. What fish do you recommend for my tank with these conditions? I seem to change my mind about what I want every other day - In an ideal world I would like some dwarf ciclids (apistogramma, kribs, rams) or something as a centrepice with some tetra, I also like gourami (i'll finish there before I get carried away). I know my suggestions are not sensible but some suggestions would go a long way.
Thanks for all your help
Graham