Acidic water isn't necessary but soft water will help. I have hatched out quite a few GBR eggs with a pH between 7.0-7.2. I have learned the best thing to do to prevent fungus is to keep good circulation in the tank. Actually, I have heard keeping the eggs in a quart size mason jar (canning jar) is pretty adventageous as you can aerate the water eadequately by adding an airline from a pump and feeding is much easier as the food to water ratio is much greater than if the eggs were in, say, a 10 gallon tank. I think I am going to try this with my next spawn when I try to induce one (once my 125 gets set up) and I am going to feed the fry something a litte different than the BBS that most people suggest. I have a feeling the shrimp are too large (even the smaller BBS strain) for the fry to consume.