FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi All,
Im trying to breed my Nanochromis Transvestitus,
and I suspect they will need a ph drop to induce
spawning.
Im just wondering, what water should I buy to add
to soften it?
I see Distilled water in the store, is this the one
to get?
How much do I add at a time?
Currently ph is at 7.2 and gh is >80ppm.
I have peat granules I could soak water overnight with some peat in it to try and soften it dramatically.
What would you all recommend?
Thanks!


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

If you can buy distilled or RO water to mix in with what you're using now, that would be ideal. Or, you can use 100% RO or distilled and adjust the parameters as you see fit. How much you want to use is up to you and depends on how far you want to drop the pH. If you start slow, maybe just using distilled as some of the replacement water for water changes, you can observe how the fish react to the parameter change and ensure that things go the way you want them to.

Using peat would probably drop the pH somewhat, but you would not have as much control as you would using RO/distilled. Pure water can be manipulated to what you need it to be, then mixed in at whatever ratio is needed. The peat's effect when mixed with the slightly alkaline water you have would be less predictable and less effective. It could be mixed with pure water to drop the pH pretty far though.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks sirbooks,
Just the info I was looking for.
What is the ph of Distilled Water?
Is R/O ph of 7.0?
If I did soak some peat in either of those
waters for awhile and get it nice and soft,
what would you recommend? Small, 10% water changes
with the softer water?


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

Hi,
From what I read in the site:
http://www.home.zonnet.nl/Ericnaus/Cichlidae/Nanochromis_transvestitus.htm

You have to really drop that pH, down to as low as 4.
This site: http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=22 Should help you out as far as how much RO water you might need to reach the pH range you will need.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks for the links Frank,
I will read up on the second one.
These Transvestitus are F3 or F4,
so shouldnt need the ph dropped so much.
The fellow I got them off of usually lowers his
ph from 7.4 to 6.4 to induce spawning.
Hopefully I wont have too much trouble with them.
Thanks again!


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

Well, I tried the mathematical system on that page
you gave me Frank, and I put in all my info,
and it tells me I cant do the swap as my
source water already meets my requirements?!?
How bizarre.
I put in ph of 7.4 currently with wanting ph
of 6.4, and gh of 180, wantin gh of 20.
Doesnt seem the same to me lol


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

Anyone?

Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

RO and distilled have a ph of 6.8 but lacking any buffers that ph jumps or drops in an instant. A tiny bit of peat moss would plummet it down to a nice 4.0. You cannot dilute your water below a ph of around 7.2-7.4 because that is where the kh will keep it unless you add an acid like peat moss. I also would not suggest lowering the ph of ro/distilled before adding it to the tank. That leads to some wild ph swings while your tank tries to adjust to the diluting of buffers and addition of acid. I would dilute the tank water to a dkh of 3-5 depending how low you also want the gh. Then add peat moss either to water that has already been mixed to those parameters(not straight ro/distilled) or directly to the tank. Keep a very close eye on the ph because at such a low kh it is very easy to bring well below 6.0. On my ram tank I maintained a very stable ph of 5.0 by mixing the RO water to the hardness I wanted before putting in the tank and then having a small bag of peat granules in the tank.

Hi,
I've been out of town and then tied up with work.
Sham is correct in both the reasons why you cannot lower
the pH below the 6.x values and in how he suggests that
you lower it below that value.
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks Sham,
some really good info.
I already have acidic water, as I have
a half pound of peat granular in the filter,
which according to tests yesterday the tank is sitting
at 6.8ph.
I think I will pick up some R/O water and mix it
with some peat to the desired ph and then do small water changes with it until I bring the ph down enough.


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames