diverdown123
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2011
- Messages
- 3
Hi all,
After wanting one for quite awhile, I finally picked up an aquarium setup about five weeks ago. Since then, I have spent the usual countless hours of trying to figure out the cycling process.. which should be getting close to finished. Ot the joys of 10PM emergency pet store runs.. high ammonia, then ich.. etc.. As of now, it's a somewhat understocked ( this is a good thing, i think) 20 gallon tank, with four guppies (1 male, 3 female), and 3 neon tetras. I have lost a number of fish, esp. earlier in the cycling process..
More recently, I've started to focus on the hardness/ alkalinity of the water. As it turn out, Atlanta tap water seems to VERY deficient in dissolved mineral. After purchasing all of the terribly wrong stuff with pet shop employee advice (African mineral salt, calcium for reef aquarium, PH increase &decrease even baking soda) I have finally settled on on the API pH 7.0 powder. It seems to be working without killing anything at the moment, and it should provide the buffer that I was missing. However, I've only added a half dose to take it slow..I think 7.0 is a good balance for the guppies and neon tetras? Is this ok?
Also, since there is very little calcium, etc. in the water, should I use one of those Vitamin and Mineral pyramids?
Again I've used a ton of different products, and this time I told myself that I would finally register and get some expert advice..would the combination help to raise both GH and KH? As of now, I am probably around 80 GH and 40KH.
Sorry for the rant and thanks for your help!
After wanting one for quite awhile, I finally picked up an aquarium setup about five weeks ago. Since then, I have spent the usual countless hours of trying to figure out the cycling process.. which should be getting close to finished. Ot the joys of 10PM emergency pet store runs.. high ammonia, then ich.. etc.. As of now, it's a somewhat understocked ( this is a good thing, i think) 20 gallon tank, with four guppies (1 male, 3 female), and 3 neon tetras. I have lost a number of fish, esp. earlier in the cycling process..
More recently, I've started to focus on the hardness/ alkalinity of the water. As it turn out, Atlanta tap water seems to VERY deficient in dissolved mineral. After purchasing all of the terribly wrong stuff with pet shop employee advice (African mineral salt, calcium for reef aquarium, PH increase &decrease even baking soda) I have finally settled on on the API pH 7.0 powder. It seems to be working without killing anything at the moment, and it should provide the buffer that I was missing. However, I've only added a half dose to take it slow..I think 7.0 is a good balance for the guppies and neon tetras? Is this ok?
Also, since there is very little calcium, etc. in the water, should I use one of those Vitamin and Mineral pyramids?
Again I've used a ton of different products, and this time I told myself that I would finally register and get some expert advice..would the combination help to raise both GH and KH? As of now, I am probably around 80 GH and 40KH.
Sorry for the rant and thanks for your help!