Our local water is notoriously soft. A new tank I set up today measured a hardness of 4 dH. (pH is 7.3 btw) I have had trouble getting plants to grow well, and a local store suggested I do what they do, and that is always keep some dead coral in each tank.
At that point, the only tank I had was full of African cichlids (so no plants), but they loved the coral for hiding places so I put quite a few pieces in. They have been in the tank for 2 years. Today, I thought I'd shell out for a test kit and measure it.
As I said, I measured a new tank, and it was 4, so I tried the African's tank, and it was high, very high. I stopped adding drops at 24 (didn't want to waste the chemical in the kit). pH in this tank is 7.3 also.
So, could it really be this high or could the kit be being 'fooled' by something else? The African's don't seem to be bothered, and neither do the pleco and the buenos aries tetras in there.
Also, lastly, would anyone care to comment on the issue of plants not wanting to grow, and the per stores theory that it was the soft water?
At that point, the only tank I had was full of African cichlids (so no plants), but they loved the coral for hiding places so I put quite a few pieces in. They have been in the tank for 2 years. Today, I thought I'd shell out for a test kit and measure it.
As I said, I measured a new tank, and it was 4, so I tried the African's tank, and it was high, very high. I stopped adding drops at 24 (didn't want to waste the chemical in the kit). pH in this tank is 7.3 also.
So, could it really be this high or could the kit be being 'fooled' by something else? The African's don't seem to be bothered, and neither do the pleco and the buenos aries tetras in there.
Also, lastly, would anyone care to comment on the issue of plants not wanting to grow, and the per stores theory that it was the soft water?
but I grow plants on land not water !!
