Members Lake Malawi Water Conditions

[Teki]

Just thought it would be a good idea to ask various members what GH, KH and PH that various members keep there tanks at to keep there fish happy and showing the best colours ?

[Nodalizer]

My GH is high naturally here: so it sits around 15-20 which seems to keep the fish happy not that I could do a lot if they didn't like it haha

KH I keep at around 10-12

PH I normally try to maintain around 8.2

[Teki]

Wish I was lucky as you, My tap water comes out at GH 1-2 KH 2-3 and PH 6.9 makes for a lot of work.

[johns]

tap water is low here PH 7.2 GH4 KH 2 so i use Fish Focus MALAWI rift lake salt this increases overall PH7.8 GH11+ KH7-8

[Nodalizer]

My Gh is the only high one .. the others I raise myself.

think my PH is around 7 and KH is next to nothing. Haven't tested my town water in a while. Normally only test it if I do what I normally do and the water levels are wrong.

[Nodalizer]

Actually while we are on KH and PH... I need to raise KH and PH on each water change so I use this Propper PH 8.2

Does anyone know a cheap alternative for raising only PH and KH ?

This propper stuff is not that concentrated.

[Teki]

I have seen heaps of diy recipes online using biCarbonate Soda and Epson salts but I think it would be wise who has more knowledge than myself comment on this.

[krellious]

I have used the epsom and bicarb method to great success a few years back with YT aceii and salousi. However i will copy a post from a different forum contradicting my thoughts. Also i use Johns recipe and no idea what the readings are but the fish are happy and so am i as $10 will not send me broke

Quoting Mrbigsby

WOW!!!!!

guys seriously, dont just go throwing advice out without testing.

these ARE the effects of each:

-bicarb, will raise ph and kh, although in its raw form without calcium and potassium anions is extremely unstable in dose:effect, and effect:time...-just use a good african kh buffer, el cheapo prices get el cheapo results, HONESTLY.

-epsom (magnesium)- again without the correct anions and buffers this is only a part of the story. This is good as a diarrhetic, use 1 tbl spoon per 37-40litres of water to treat float/bloat, or clear the tracts of your fish once every couple months for general good health. This is an incomplete and unacceptable way to raise GH at the doses you see on the net, and doesnt not serve any other purpose in the aquarium. Tanganyika is relatively low in magnesium!

uniodized salt (without anti-caking agents found in food salts) is good in a haspitol tank for treatment of torn fins or body injury...will not aid in cure of parasites, good for cuts, grazes, cloudy eye, torn fins. Add 2 drops/100ltrs of tea tree oil for a more complete anti septic (natural healing esturies like mangroves are often also tea tree enriched). tea tree acts as a very subtle antifungal, and subtle pain releif with a numbing effect.

DO NOT TREAT PROBLEMS THAT DONT EXIST.

for normal maintenance use tap water, prime/safe/whatever for dechlorinator, and test ph/kh/nitrate, if the ph/kh drop use some tang buffers at 1/4 doses with testing in between... tangs are fine over 7.5, 8-9ph is not 100% necessary.

If nitrate is present at harmful levels after your water change, get more biological filtration and waterchange more water more often!

simple

clean fresh water will prevent disease, make your fish grow faster, and promotes spawning (for breeding, best before rain on an increase of boa metric pressure, with slow trickled cold water only to simulate rain).

[Nodalizer]

-bicarb, will raise ph and kh, although in its raw form without calcium and potassium anions is extremely unstable in dose:effect, and effect:time...-just use a good african kh buffer, el cheapo prices get el cheapo results, HONESTLY.

I am not talking elcheapo, I am talking currently $25 for a container that last maybe 10 water changes. Kinda over the top.

What are the african KH buffers ? I have only seen ones that raise both KH and GH

[krellious]

25 fror bicarb... go to a pool shop or supermarket. Or speak to Johns here and he may be abe to help you out with a cheaper product

[Nodalizer]

25 for the propper ph, what I was saying is even half of what I am currently paying couldn't be called elcheapo.

bicarb was mentioned by someone else.

But after a lot of research I think bicarb is the alternative I was after. It does the exact same thing as the propper PH at a fraction of the cost. (Talking KH and PH here, not GH)

[johns]

Sodium Bicarb will only raise the PH if you do not get the KH over 4 KH then the PH level will drop.

25 fror bicarb... go to a pool shop or supermarket. Or speak to Johns here and he may be abe to help you out with a cheaper product

I can post my Rift lake salt if you are interested.

Cheers John

[Aquamania]

Ok lots of Ph adjusters on the market

I can do Ph proper 6.5 , 7 , 7.5 250 gm Jar for $19

Ph up and Ph down 100gm $6

200gm $10

500gm $19

Or liquid Ph adjuster 250ml $18

500ml $23

2.5lt $90

Send me email at sales@aquamaniafs.net

Or call 0448443779 if you don't get an answer just leave a message and i will call you back

[Nodalizer]

Moreafter KH

Sodium Bicarb will only raise the PH if you do not get the KH over 4 KH then the PH level will drop.

I can post my Rift lake salt if you are interested.

Cheers John

Are you sure about that ? All of the research I have done has said Bicarb is Primarily for KH adjustment.

It will raise PH, but only to a maximum of 8.2-8.4 much like Proper PH 8.2

[GRK-351]

using bi-carb is not a set and forget though. it is not stable and ph may drop after a day or so. whereas using proper salts like johns stuff will maintain values for much longer and be much more stable.

after all, we are trying to achieve a stable water chemistry rather than go up and down trying to maintain an ideal figure.

i am also using johns salt and cant say anything bad about it. very reasonable priced and seems to be working well with all fish breeding and displaying very well and in great health. cant wait to try the tang salts and buffer and fish focus foods!

cheers,

mat

[Nodalizer]

Are you monitoring KH when you add the Bi-carb ?

What GH is your tank ?

[Teki]

where do you get Johns salt from ?

[mattrox]

Pm Johns on the forum and he'll hook you up.

[Teki]

So what PH, KH and GH levels should members be looking to keep there Malawi tank at ?

[Nodalizer]

I Like 12 KH and GH and 8.2 PH

Though my GH is higher because of the town water here

[Teki]

Whats your GH Basic

[Nodalizer]

Tap wter pops it out at 12+ .. last time i checked around 20

I don't stress too much about GH long as its somewhere above 10.

[sandgroper]

I use the bi-carb, epsom salt and marine salt recipe. Have done so for 7 or more years, all fish breed like flies. My water is ph 8.4 kh 10-12 gh 12-14, i keep Malawi, Tanganyika and Victorians in this water. The bi-carb is used to raise the kh and in turn raises the ph. cheers steve

[cafa]

WE HAVE INTERESTING PARAMETERS IN ADELAIDE. GH IS VERY HIGH. SO HIGH THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMMEASURABLE USING NORMAL HOME TESTING. ON THE OTHER HAND, OUR KH IS ALMOST NON EXISTENT. TO STABILISE, I STORE MY WATER IN 3X 220LTR. BINS WHICH HAVE CORAL SAND IN THE BOTTOM. THIS ELIMINATES THE KH PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I THINK THAT, EVEN THOUGH OUR WATER FROM THE TAP IS AROUND PH 7.1, AND THE CORAL SAND ELEVATES IT CONSIDERABLY, I GET A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT I OCCASIONALLY GET READINGS OF AROUND PH 9.0.

THE FISH SEEM HAPPY ENOUGH AND COLOURS ARE GREAT, BUT WAS TOLD RECENTLY THAT I'LL SEND THEM TO AN EARLY GRAVE IF I DON'T DO AWAY WITH THE CORAL GRAVEL.

WOULD APPRECIATE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS

CHEERS CAFA

[ThiefInDaNite]

Hi All

New to this Cichlids- Malawi scene,

Sorry to break the serious talk with a basic question.

What is GH and KH :-)