How's my tap water for CRS?

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 10-13-2012, 04:21 PM

pH: +8.0
GH: 0-1
PH: 2-4
TDS: 75-80
Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates: 0

Obviously for pH and KH I can use peat to lower them before adding to the tank. I'm looking to keep S grades, so rather simple ones.

GeToChKn · 10-13-2012, 04:24 PM

I assume the PH: 2-4 is supposed to be KH: 2-4 ?

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 10-13-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeToChKn

I assume the PH: 2-4 is supposed to be KH: 2-4 ?

Yeah, whoops.

Blue Falcon · 10-13-2012, 11:29 PM

GH is too low. should be at least 4. 4 to 6 is the target range. Increasing the GH will also increase the TDS to a more desirable range (in the mid 100's). But to be honest with you, I dont like the idea of fighting your water all the time. Thats what your doing by using peat is fighting your water. Eventually something will go wrong, your peat will wear out and before you know it pH is swinging all over the place. It is much better to start with RO water and add the necessary minerals back in to raise GH. Just my opinion man. I have kept alot of tanks at many different parameters and have had enough bad experiences to learn not to try to fight your water. especially when pH is drastically high like that. The slightest change could throw your pH all over the place. Also, thats pretty darn high pH to only have 2-4 degrees of carbonate hardness. My pH comes out of my tap at 7.8 and KH is 6

cantsay39 · 10-14-2012, 02:07 AM

looks like your water ph is too high, i dont think your crs will thrive in the water parameters you currently showing, it is best 5.0~6.8 max.. >.< i think 6.5 is pretty even... 6.8 didnt work out for me back then... they are alive but not breeding.. if you want to keep it just to watch and not breed is ok.. but i don't think that is the case.

Razorworm · 10-14-2012, 02:15 AM

my crs are cool with my tap water 8.-8.2. no fluctuations though.

Monster Fish · 10-14-2012, 02:17 AM

Is that fresh from the tap? Try leaving the water out overnight with an airstone. The PH might drop once the water has absorbed some CO2.

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 10-14-2012, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster Fish

Is that fresh from the tap? Try leaving the water out overnight with an airstone. The PH might drop once the water has absorbed some CO2.

I did, but I don't have any air pumps. The pH did not change. I'll try using a peat filter with tap water and see what my pH is then.

cantsay39 · 10-14-2012, 02:28 AM

~.~ by the way when you do that.. make sure buy a strong airpump.. the one that supplies 30 gallon and 50 running 5 tubes cant really support therefore i have to spend money to buy a stronger airpump.. if you do decide to get one get a strong one better to be safe than sorry.. i started with 1 tank now i have 6 tanks ... >.< and air pumping the water that i do wc

10-13-2012, 04:21 PM	#1
ThatGuyWithTheFish Honeycomb Cats! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boston Posts: 1,666	How's my tap water for CRS? pH: +8.0 GH: 0-1 PH: 2-4 TDS: 75-80 Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates: 0 Obviously for pH and KH I can use peat to lower them before adding to the tank. I'm looking to keep S grades, so rather simple ones. __________________ 20G Long Hi-Tech: My Golden Rule of planted tanks: WWTAD- "What would Takashi Amano do?" RAOK Club #69

10-13-2012, 04:24 PM	#2
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,112	I assume the PH: 2-4 is supposed to be KH: 2-4 ? __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

10-14-2012, 02:17 AM	#7
Monster Fish Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (24/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,818	Is that fresh from the tap? Try leaving the water out overnight with an airstone. The PH might drop once the water has absorbed some CO2. __________________ 5.5 gallon grass tank\|5.5 gallon Rili tank RAOK Club #77\|*The Fraternity of Dirt #112*

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10-13-2012, 11:29 PM	#4
Blue Falcon Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC Posts: 217	GH is too low. should be at least 4. 4 to 6 is the target range. Increasing the GH will also increase the TDS to a more desirable range (in the mid 100's). But to be honest with you, I dont like the idea of fighting your water all the time. Thats what your doing by using peat is fighting your water. Eventually something will go wrong, your peat will wear out and before you know it pH is swinging all over the place. It is much better to start with RO water and add the necessary minerals back in to raise GH. Just my opinion man. I have kept alot of tanks at many different parameters and have had enough bad experiences to learn not to try to fight your water. especially when pH is drastically high like that. The slightest change could throw your pH all over the place. Also, thats pretty darn high pH to only have 2-4 degrees of carbonate hardness. My pH comes out of my tap at 7.8 and KH is 6

10-14-2012, 02:07 AM	#5
cantsay39 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Elmhurst, Nyc Posts: 672	looks like your water ph is too high, i dont think your crs will thrive in the water parameters you currently showing, it is best 5.0~6.8 max.. >.< i think 6.5 is pretty even... 6.8 didnt work out for me back then... they are alive but not breeding.. if you want to keep it just to watch and not breed is ok.. but i don't think that is the case.

10-14-2012, 02:15 AM	#6
Razorworm Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Hawthorn Woods IL Posts: 550	my crs are cool with my tap water 8.-8.2. no fluctuations though.

10-14-2012, 02:28 AM	#9
cantsay39 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Elmhurst, Nyc Posts: 672	~.~ by the way when you do that.. make sure buy a strong airpump.. the one that supplies 30 gallon and 50 running 5 tubes cant really support therefore i have to spend money to buy a stronger airpump.. if you do decide to get one get a strong one better to be safe than sorry.. i started with 1 tank now i have 6 tanks ... >.< and air pumping the water that i do wc