Hi all,
Let me start by saying I will be humbling honest about my situataion. I'm not entirely new to the hobby but fairly new to planted aquaria & I've received a LOT of bad advice (some of which I've followed) via the internet before finding these boards.
I am thinking about resetting up my 55 gallon aquarium with all new inhabitants in order to simplify my life. Read on & find out why please.
I have been fighting my city water parameters (I know now, not very intelligent) and I believe I am finally ready to give in. My tap water is, according to the Meadville Area Water Authority, about 14 grains per gallon of hardness with PH of 7.3 and .01 mg/liter iron. When I last tested from a spigot in my house not in line with my water softener the tests read: KH 11° & GH 16°, PH 7.8(possibly higher), Nitrates 0, Phosphate 1.0.
Please don't laugh at me when I tell you that I have been using filtered rain water collected in a rainbarrel off a gutter & am tired of lugging buckets of it up my basement steps.
All this for the love of Amazonian cichlids & the desire to see them have families. I am the proud owner of 7 (some breeding) Laetacara Curviceps, 1 pair of Angels (possibly both females), 1 Keyhole Cichlid, 4 Bristlenose, 2 Otos, 5 Tetras & 2 Cardinals.
First & foremost I am wondering if any of these fish could live in my tap water if I gradually switch over from what it is now, KH 4 & GH 7, PH 6.6 - 6.8 using CO2 injection (that's another story)?
I realize they will most likely not spawn but will I have to find a new home for any/all of them?
Also, I'm looking for some input on what types of fish other people would put in this tank if they had this type of tap water.
Finally, any tips or suggestions on how to go about making the water switch would be great!
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Humbly yours, Susan
Let me start by saying I will be humbling honest about my situataion. I'm not entirely new to the hobby but fairly new to planted aquaria & I've received a LOT of bad advice (some of which I've followed) via the internet before finding these boards.
I am thinking about resetting up my 55 gallon aquarium with all new inhabitants in order to simplify my life. Read on & find out why please.
I have been fighting my city water parameters (I know now, not very intelligent) and I believe I am finally ready to give in. My tap water is, according to the Meadville Area Water Authority, about 14 grains per gallon of hardness with PH of 7.3 and .01 mg/liter iron. When I last tested from a spigot in my house not in line with my water softener the tests read: KH 11° & GH 16°, PH 7.8(possibly higher), Nitrates 0, Phosphate 1.0.
Please don't laugh at me when I tell you that I have been using filtered rain water collected in a rainbarrel off a gutter & am tired of lugging buckets of it up my basement steps.
First & foremost I am wondering if any of these fish could live in my tap water if I gradually switch over from what it is now, KH 4 & GH 7, PH 6.6 - 6.8 using CO2 injection (that's another story)?
I realize they will most likely not spawn but will I have to find a new home for any/all of them?
Also, I'm looking for some input on what types of fish other people would put in this tank if they had this type of tap water.
Finally, any tips or suggestions on how to go about making the water switch would be great!
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Humbly yours, Susan