water buffer questions

[wattletree]

Hi,i have been using epsom salts and baking soda for a year now to get my water parameters right.I first found this recipe on a overseas forum.If i mention that i use this people have a hissy fit!Saying that you have to use rift lake salts etc.i have just searched here and found that some aussies use this too.What are your opinions on this?I use to swear by it but have recently lost nearly all my fish with sunken bellies and the man at the fish shop said it was because i have been using epsom salts at water changes?

[Ben]

Personally I wouldn't use them. I did when I first started out but the stuff turned to concrete in my water change tubs. I would hate to see what it did to the internals of my fish. Now days I use Seachem or nothing. I tried the Aquasonic products but the fish seemed to prefer the Seachem stuff. Typical the more expensive.

When people talk about buffers and salts I always think of one particular sentence out of the millions I have read over the years.

Incorrect GH will affect the transfer of nutrients and waste products through cell membranes and can affect egg fertility, proper functioning of internal organs such as kidneys and growth. Within reason, most fish and plants can successfully adapt to local GH conditions, although breeding may be impaired.

[CThompson]

but have recently lost nearly all my fish with sunken bellies and the man at the fish shop said it was because i have been using epsom salts at water changes

That's rubbish. Sunken bellies is a whole different problem.

Don't use baking soda as it can't maintain the pH as well as KH generator, but I have use KH generator and epsom salts with my Malawi fish for years and years and years - they bred non-stop.

I would use seachem salts instead of epsom salts with tangs though.

Craig