Buffers for Africans ?

[Guest Gutty]

Basicly just curious what people are using to buffer their water.

I used to use some seachem products but have recently changed all my tanks to a marble substrate and have stopped adding anything but water ager when doing a water change.

I currently see no bad side affects. Ph is a bit lower but still at an acceptable level.

What do you use ? What are your thoughts on buffers in general ?

Did i miss any other alternatives in the poll ?

Thanks

Matt

[DREMEN]

I am just about to pack a stocking pull of shell grit and place it in my in-tank filter

I am hoping that works well

[anchar]

I use lime sand and/or crushed coral along with limestone decor and my fish breed regularly without health issues. I used to pay a fortune on Seachem products but found that the benfits did not justify the cost.

Also, I lost a group of brevis early on in the piece by (stupidly) not pre-dissolving the Seachem salt befor adding it to the aquarium So I don't use "lake salts" at all....but I do sometimes add rock salt and epsom salts to the tanks.

merjo

[BaZ]

I use crushed marble in my tanks. Occasionally when doing a water change I'll give the fish a treat with a bit of rock salt or bicarb soda or even some seachem salts.

But normally it's just the marble doing the work.

[Willy Wombat]

OK - i use coral sand as substrate - a stocking of shell grit in my filter, plus i add a teaspoon of epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), and a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to my 20 litre water change bucket. I dechlorinate all my water

I dont add any extra chemicals to my tank if i am filling up due to evaporation.

PH is stable at about 8. I havent tested my hardess in a while.

Fish are growing and breeding in my tank, so im guess something is OK.

[Guest Gutty]

Thanks for all your opinions.

They'll come in very handy

BTW, my Aulonocara stuartgranti Chiwindi have not stopped spawning since making the change. They did spawn before, but not this much. Could be that they've just matured a bit more though...........

Lata

Matt

[Cannula]

I use shells and shellgrit, and with the odd water change a salt mix by Aquasonic, it includes antibacterial and antifungal agents.

I use it for my medicated salt baths and it works a treat.

My two male Oscars starting courting, they have a piece of wood to lay on. They both stare at the wood and then each other thinking "Come on you've got the eggs" then they fight like hell as there obviously aren't going to be any eggs Have to get rid of one soon.

The Texas which was with them I almost put out of his misery a couple of times, he is in my two foot hospital tank. Almost a third of his skin was bitten off and had fungus over half an inch long. Unfortunately he is still emotionly scarred but I have a super passive JD that is keeping him company. The fungus is long gone thanks to the salt mix and he has most of his skin back, his spots look better than before they were picked off. Just hope he gets his wits about him as he is a great fish.

PS Sorry about this post most of it should of been a new one

[Guest Gutty]

My two male Oscars starting courting, they have a piece of wood to lay on. They both stare at the wood and then each other thinking "Come on you've got the eggs"

Hahahahahaha........silly boys...