Choice Of Filter Media

**sarahp** · Jul 2, 2007

Hi, I am a newbie :good:

Have been reading LOTS on here and have learned loads. I have bought a second hand tank - a Rena 121 x 51 x 76 cm tank - holds about 400 litres with 340 ish being useful. I have bought sand (waiting to be washed) cos I want to keep corys, I have ordered a load of real plants, due to be delivered wednesday (when I've cleaned the tank and the stones and the sand LOL). I am off to find a test kit and some ammonia tomorrow ready for a fishless cycle BUT am confused as hell about what type of filter media to use.

The tank came with a Rena XP3 external filter and I have tested my tap water with a litmus dipper strip thingy (very technical!) but the ph is registering 7.5 to 8 ish and at the top end of high for water hardness - so what do i need to put in the filter to help with these things or does it not really effect things that much?

Cheers

Chubbywubs · Jul 2, 2007

Cleaning the sand is going to be a pain in the tail fin! As far as im aware the only cure for water hardness is a chemical treatement, i dont think there are filter pads for it.

dthoffsett · Jul 2, 2007

Sounds like you're pretty well prepared! Those paper test kits aren't very accurate, you are much better off with a liquid test kit. However, higher PH isn't that much of a problem, if you decide to add CO2 for your plants, or lots of driftwood will help lower your PH. You can also add peat moss to your filter, but I understand thats pretty messy. You can also add part tap water and part RO (reverse osmosis) water, but unless you are keeping very sensitive fish, I wouldn't.

However, most tank bred fish are very adaptable when it come to PH, they may not breed outside of their desired levels, but will live to their full life expectancy. Or you could focus on fish that come from hardwater areas.

What ever you decide, stay away from chemicals that "guarantee" to lower your PH as they are difficult to find the right amount to acheive the PH you want, and they tend to cause your PH levels to fluctuate, a stable PH is far more desirable than the "perfect" reading.

rabbut · Jul 2, 2007

**sarahp** said:
Hi, I am a newbie Have been reading LOTS on here and have learned loads. I have bought a second hand tank - a Rena 121 x 51 x 76 cm tank - holds about 400 litres with 340 ish being useful. I have bought sand (waiting to be washed) cos I want to keep corys, I have ordered a load of real plants, due to be delivered wednesday (when I've cleaned the tank and the stones and the sand LOL). I am off to find a test kit and some ammonia tomorrow ready for a fishless cycle BUT am confused as hell about what type of filter media to use.

The tank came with a Rena XP3 external filter and I have tested my tap water with a litmus dipper strip thingy (very technical!) but the ph is registering 7.5 to 8 ish and at the top end of high for water hardness - so what do i need to put in the filter to help with these things or does it not really effect things that much?

Cheers

I would not worry too much about the hardness, or pH. For someone new to the hobby, it is better to choose the fish for the source waters charactoristics, than it is to change he water chemistory. Altering the pH and Hardness can lead to massive swings in pH, often large enough to stress, or sometimes kill, the occupants of the tank. If you realy need to soften the water and lower the pH, I would either buy RO water from the LFS, or buy a de-ioning unit, to treat the tap water. I would mix the RO, or de-ionised water with tap water, arround 1:1 ratio, to alter the chemistory to the more disierable range of hardness and pH. For hard water, with high pH, it may be a good idea to look into a cichlid tank. I am, however, on cichlid expert, and the opinions of other forum member should be looked for before choosing to go with the later option.
There is no way to lower the hardness or pH within the tank (that I am aware of), at a rate that is not stressful to fish, so I would advise biological media, such as sponges, for the filtration only. Avoid the chemicals for adjusting the water hardness, and pH, unless you intend to mix them in a bucket, and test each bucket load prior to adding to the tank. IMHO adjusting water charactoristics, where it can be avoided, is not worth the risk.

HTH, and sorry about the wofeling,

rabbut