16 Gallon stocking

[Rocky998]

Well, if you feed the snails then maybe but I've still seen shell corrosion after calcium supplements (youtube videos) and calcium blocks might dissolve into the water, turning it hard and therefore removing softness.

Calcium doesn't make water hard... The water needs other minerals to classify it as "hard"

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Calcium doesn't make water hard... The water needs other minerals to classify it as "hard"

I'm pretty sure GH is calcium. Snails need hard water because it has, typically, high levels of calcium.

 

[Rocky998]

I'm pretty sure GH is calcium. Snails need hard water because it has, typically, high levels of calcium.

GH meaasures all total dissolved solids or the TDS of the water which does include calcium but not all of it is

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

GH meaasures all total dissolved solids or the TDS of the water which does include calcium but not all of it is

I know that magnesium is also involved...

 

[Rocky998]

I know that magnesium is also involved...

Along with a few other things yes... I technically have very soft water and my snails do great!

 

[Morasea]

So you have soft water!
No snails allowed...

Good to clarify! I thought I would have soft water so I’m glad I did

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Good to clarify! I thought I would have soft water so I’m glad I did

Soft water has many stocking options, I'll do a list later.

 

[Rocky998]

Soft water has many stocking options, I'll do a list later.

my reaction to this post can not be showed by any emoji available... How long would your list even be?

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

my reaction to this post can not be showed by any emoji available... How long would your list even be?

Not too long, some general common fish like Chili Rasboras and Pygmy Corydoras and a few more...
Unless you want to make the list first!

 

[Rocky998]

Not too long, some general common fish like Chili Rasboras and Pygmy Corydoras and a few more...
Unless you want to make the list first!

Ok I thought you were going to try and list every fish available

 

[Essjay]

GH meaasures all total dissolved solids or the TDS of the water which does include calcium but not all of it is

Just to clarify about hardness. Hardness is not the same as TDS.

GH or hardness is the amount of divalent metal ions in the water. In practice, this means mainly calcium, some magnesium and trace amounts of other metals.
Hardness does not measure monovalent metals such as sodium and potassium, or trivalent metals such as aluminium. This is why some water softeners use salt to exchange the hardness minerals for sodium - sodium isn't part of hardness.
Hardness, GH, does not measure things like ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Or carbonate. Or organic chemicals such as tannins and fish hormones.

Total dissolved solids (TDS) measures just about everything in the water. TDS includes everything in GH, plus KH, plus things like sodium and aluminium, plus organics etc.

 

[Rocky998]

Just to clarify about hardness. Hardness is not the same as TDS.

GH or hardness is the amount of divalent metal ions in the water. In practice, this means mainly calcium, some magnesium and trace amounts of other metals.
Hardness does not measure monovalent metals such as sodium and potassium, or trivalent metals such as aluminium. This is why some water softeners use salt to exchange the hardness minerals for sodium - sodium isn't part of hardness.
Hardness, GH, does not measure things like ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Or carbonate. Or organic chemicals such as tannins and fish hormones.

Total dissolved solids (TDS) measures just about everything in the water. TDS includes everything in GH, plus KH, plus things like sodium and aluminium, plus organics etc.

I always thougjt GH was basically TDS... Learn something new every day I guess...

 

[Morasea]

Soft water has many stocking options, I'll do a list later.

Would love to see it!

 

[Morasea]

So I finally got a filter in the tank and a couple small plants to monitor the cycling process and watch for growth but still thinking about stocking lol. So far I’m debating a red honey gourami, just a large school of 15-20 chili’s or an apisto with the chilis.
Are there any species of SA dwarf cichlids that would fit with them in that tank? I keep reading a pair should be kept in a 20 gallon but couldn’t find info on a single apisto. I figure it’d be the same but thought I’d ask.

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Would love to see it!

I'll do it a bit later, don't have much time right now.