First At Home Test

[GetItSahn]

I borrowed a buddy of mines testing kits and tested for the first time at my own home.
 
I used to only focus on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate but this particular test kit was pretty in depth.
My ammonia and nitrite were both 0, with nitrates at 40, my water was soft/very soft according to the test between 25 and 75 on the results chart, alkalinity was "ideal"...80 ppm.
Now what really surprised me was the ph, it appeared to be at 6.2.
 
The species in this tank are cory, pleco, guppy, gourami, neons, snails and shrimp
Does anything in my results surprise/worry you? I fear that my ph should be closer to 7 and don't know about my hardness or what it should be.
Any advice or input would be appreciated.
 
 

 

[baker360360]

I want harder water for my cichlids and was about to use some buffers but was advised on here that stable water is better than to try and juggle the hardness.

 

[stanleo]

My ph stays around there with a similar stocking to yours and everything is fine. A steady ph is more important than the actual number. It's spikes that u need to worry about, fish are pretty adaptable.

 

[GetItSahn]

alrighty, this is all good to hear

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That water is great for those fish, except maybe the guppies.

 

[b3cca]

yup most of your fish actually prefer soft acidic waters anyways. Some of those fish like the neons and Gouramis and some plecos will thrive in those conditions
 
My tanks stay around 6.0 PH and is also very soft and everybody is perfectly happy -- Apart form me lol because i found out trying to cycle aquariums with very soft acidic water can be very challenging

 

[GetItSahn]

Honestly my main concern was my snails. I have red ramshorns, 2 nerites, and MTS. I have noticed MTS with broken down or shells with small holes. Is it best to leave your water a little too hard or soft rather then causing swings in parameters?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm not an invert expert...  You could add some crushed coral, like a handful to the filter and let it dissolve.  When it dissolves completely add a bit more...  And keep an eye on your kH values... try to keep it fairly consistent for the fish.
 
Soft water IS a concern for inverts... too low and the shells do end up with holes and shrimp struggle to molt properly.

 

[baker360360]

Honestly my main concern was my snails. I have red ramshorns, 2 nerites, and MTS. I have noticed MTS with broken down or shells with small holes. Is it best to leave your water a little too hard or soft rather then causing swings in parameters?

I too have the same group of snails. I have come across someone saying egg shells ( put I a stocking and hide it) will release calcium in the water that will help snails develope a strong shell.

 

[GetItSahn]

I'm not an invert expert...  You could add some crushed coral, like a handful to the filter and let it dissolve.  When it dissolves completely add a bit more...  And keep an eye on your kH values... try to keep it fairly consistent for the fish.
 
Soft water IS a concern for inverts... too low and the shells do end up with holes and shrimp struggle to molt properly.

 

 

Honestly my main concern was my snails. I have red ramshorns, 2 nerites, and MTS. I have noticed MTS with broken down or shells with small holes. Is it best to leave your water a little too hard or soft rather then causing swings in parameters?

I too have the same group of snails. I have come across someone saying egg shells ( put I a stocking and hide it) will release calcium in the water that will help snails develope a strong shell.
 

I was told to try cuttlebone so I dropped a piece in my tank around a week ago, idk if that will help or not but it hasn't noticeably dissolved.
I'll try looking up crushed coral on PetSmart's page to see some brands.

 

[baker360360]

I'm not an invert expert...  You could add some crushed coral, like a handful to the filter and let it dissolve.  When it dissolves completely add a bit more...  And keep an eye on your kH values... try to keep it fairly consistent for the fish.
 
Soft water IS a concern for inverts... too low and the shells do end up with holes and shrimp struggle to molt properly.

 

Honestly my main concern was my snails. I have red ramshorns, 2 nerites, and MTS. I have noticed MTS with broken down or shells with small holes. Is it best to leave your water a little too hard or soft rather then causing swings in parameters?

I too have the same group of snails. I have come across someone saying egg shells ( put I a stocking and hide it) will release calcium in the water that will help snails develope a strong shell.

I was told to try cuttlebone so I dropped a piece in my tank around a week ago, idk if that will help or not but it hasn't noticeably dissolved.
I'll try looking up crushed coral on PetSmart's page to see some brands.

I've also got crushed coral. I got it because I was told it will raise ph a little for my cichlids. If you don't want your water changing I'd check to see if coral will affect water first.

It's not expensive I payed about £1 per kg