trickyspark
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- Nov 30, 2007
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With the help of some other people in the forum I narrowed down a problem with molly small fry dying while other fry (swordtails) in the same tank were the picture of health.
I tested all the parameters of my water. Everything was spot on, except my GH or general hardness. It showed up as 3, when it should have been between 6 to 16 as indicated by my test kit.
I searched every pet store in our state capital today (Montgomery, AL) and did not find a single product that hardened water with the exception of one. It was called Cichlid Buffer. After reading the back label, it stated that it raised and stablilized pH and KH (carbonate hardness).
My KH is 8, and my PH is 8. I don't want to manipulate either if possible. I have heard messing with the pH is a P.I.T.A (pain in the a**) and the KH is perfect.
I asked the people that worked in the pet stores, and they looked at me as if to say, "#### is soft water?". I can't blame them, I wasn't a specialist, and still am not.
Are there any products I can safely add to my aquariums to safely raise the GH that will not raise/lower the pH, that will not introduce any unwanted chemicals/side effects, and are tolerable by various freshwater fish (catfish, platies, molly, ghost shrimp, snails, etc.)
I bought some aquarium salt, but after reading it will increase the pH and isn't something readily tolerater or enjoyed by corydoras and plecos (I have them in every tank, can't help it I love catfish), I have refrained from adding it pending further advice.
I tested all the parameters of my water. Everything was spot on, except my GH or general hardness. It showed up as 3, when it should have been between 6 to 16 as indicated by my test kit.
I searched every pet store in our state capital today (Montgomery, AL) and did not find a single product that hardened water with the exception of one. It was called Cichlid Buffer. After reading the back label, it stated that it raised and stablilized pH and KH (carbonate hardness).
My KH is 8, and my PH is 8. I don't want to manipulate either if possible. I have heard messing with the pH is a P.I.T.A (pain in the a**) and the KH is perfect.
I asked the people that worked in the pet stores, and they looked at me as if to say, "#### is soft water?". I can't blame them, I wasn't a specialist, and still am not.
Are there any products I can safely add to my aquariums to safely raise the GH that will not raise/lower the pH, that will not introduce any unwanted chemicals/side effects, and are tolerable by various freshwater fish (catfish, platies, molly, ghost shrimp, snails, etc.)
I bought some aquarium salt, but after reading it will increase the pH and isn't something readily tolerater or enjoyed by corydoras and plecos (I have them in every tank, can't help it I love catfish), I have refrained from adding it pending further advice.