[morefish4me]

Hi,

I am planning on setting up a new tank and here's my tap water:

pH=7.4-7.6
GH=9 degrees
kH=16 degrees
TDS=350-400 ppm.

Can I keep tang. in my tap water. If not, is there a good buffer I can use to improve the water? I'm worried that with the KH so high that a pH conditioner won't do much good.

Thanks,

Nate Terry

 

[24Tropheus]

When it settles in the tank try measuring it.
My tap water is pH 7 from the tap but settles at 8.6 in the tanks.
But then it has KH 14+ and GH 20+.
Even pH 7.5 can be fine for keeping some TB Tangs though so I think your water is fine no messing.
You could keep an eye on the tank water KH and make sure it does not drop below 10 to be on the safe side though.
Easy cheap way of raising your KH is Baking soda Sodium bicarbonate. GH is Epsom Salts Magnessium sulphate. (rumored to increase color and breeding not sure it makes much difference myself). Shop bought products work too but they can work out more expensive.

 

[triscuit]

Sounds like your water may be fine: but check your readings after it has set out for awhile, as suggested above. When acclimating, make sure you give the fish extra time if it's used to different water.

I also use baking soda and epsom salts for buffering: $5 goes a long way.

 

[adzer86]

GH=9 degrees
kH=16 degrees
TDS=350-400 ppm.quote]

could you please explain what these stand for!
cheers

 

[triscuit]

GH: general hardness (roughly, sum of calcuim and magnesium)
KH: carbonate hardness (contribution to buffering by bicarbonate ions)
TDS: total dissolved solids ( a measure of everything dissolved in the water)

There are some good articles in the library that explain how these affect pH and buffering in rift lake tanks.

 

[Longstocking]

Your water should be fine if you stick with tank raised fish