Hi all

Just getting to learn about the different water parameters and trying to get my water somewhere correct.

I am concentrating on a tanganyikan setup but have softish water. I have a jewel tank with an external filter but still running the original jewel filter.

My question is, is there anything I can but in the jewel filter box to harden and increase the ph of the water? ive read where people put in sea shells or marble chips to do this. Has anyone any experience of doing this. ?


Thanks

You couldt try putting in some coral sand or gravel into a nylon sock and putting it in the filter. Better yet, you could use this as your substrate and add some tufa or ocean rock for decorations. should get your ph up where its needed.

Jay

hi

a product ive recently bought is called aqua dur it hardens the water and raise s ph it buffers the ph in the alkaline region of 8 to 9 as required creating perfect conditions for the fish from lake malawi and lake tanganjika

Hi ,
ocean rock and coral sand will give you an additional buffer but it doesnt rise your Ph much above neutral level(has to be acids in the water to get a chemical reaction).There are lots , cheaper(Epson Salts,Baking Pouder..)or dearer (ready mixed salts from Sera Mineralsalt,Drak...)to harden your water.Most important is to get your parameters stabil even if they are not "ideal" most of the fishes will adapt to them(different story with wild caught fish).To give you more help I would need your water parameters.
Regards,Tim

thanks for all the help.

will do a test and put up my readings. i was also thinking of putting in a small net of carbon in there as well. is this a good idea for a tang setup?

Hi,
if you dont have a smell of your water or have to remove medicines,there is no real need for it.
Regards,Tim