Belated logging trip

[plankton]

That's better news then

[TropicalFishForums]

[Pilgrim89]

Haha well, the Krib eggs have lasted even less time than before (there's 8 eggs left at the moment) and that is with both parents guarding the eggs!  I thought this thing was meant to get better over time, not worse 

I suspect that the Barbs are somewhat wise to their spawning location as the Barbs have been hovering around the ornament a lot more this time and not really been seen off immediately whereas last time they were being seen off before they got within 5 or 6 inches so I'm unsure as to why the Kribs have been so slack this time but I hope that the Kribs don't become that successful that they injure or kill another fish  as harsh as that may sound

All fish seeming well anyway. Another 30 litre w/c to do today (30 litre is the size of the bin I use to syphon the water into), to keep the semi-cycled filter working nicely (has new foam but also established foam in). Will test over the next couple of days to see how I'm doing with the test results and will post those results

[Pilgrim89]

Well, just done a test on the tank and the ammonia is coming down nicely

Results:

Ammonia: 0.1
Nitrite: 0.0
Nitrate: 40

Action: 20-30% water change and then test again in a couple of days
Thoughts: I've reached a position of peace within the tank and it's pleasing to see. I've recently been made aware that Pentazona Barbs do like it a little acidic (around 6.0-6.5 I was told they prefer) but my water isn't harming them (as I was told by the same person - which confused me).

Due to the housemate potentially not liking the tea-stained look of a blackwater tank, is there any way I can reduce the PH a little while being cost effective? ... There's no real rush as the fish look healthy, are quickly taking up food when offered and are nicely colouring up but I have been wanting to look into ways of altering the water chemistry for a while and if I can do it on a low budget then that would be awesome! any help is greatly appreciated!

[Pilgrim89]

I guess no one has any clues on how to reduce the ph without tea-staining the water, oh well haha onwards and upwards  

I've been thinking for the last couple of days whether there'd be a fish that I could keep just one of, that would grow to 3-4 inches, that is a pretty fish-possibly with some colour on it, and that I could put into ph7.8-7dGH-27 degree water with the fish I have already ... Something of a centrepiece for the tank. I'm going to have a look online tonight but as is sometimes synonymous with online research it will most likely end up being a little overwhelming haha I'll post any ideas I find

[Stevie Mancini]

PH Down sold at jollyes or pets at home, that is if you need it quickly. I assume it would be cheaper on the internet.

It won't effect the water colour.

[Stevie Mancini]

I use this,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122379016147

I recommend sticking to the axiom of "if it's not broken, don't fix it". Don't spring to action simply because the textbook says the optimum pH for your fish is 6.4. and your water tests out at 6.0. As long as the pH is stable, and the fish show no signs of distress, it's best to leave the pH at its natural level.

[Pilgrim89]

But technically it is a little broken as the Barbs prefer it more acidic haha ... I mean, they don't show any signs of stress or lethargy from the alkaline water but I will most likely notice that they die off before their life expectancy of at least 5 years. The hardness is fine, as they like it soft and it is currently barely touching slightly hard. I'd say it's kind of on that border of slightly hard and slightly soft so that's alright. But from all the sources I've seen they say to keep the ph below 6.0 for them to thrive but as you say Stevie "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of thing and they seem ok so let's just go with it for now eh? haha

Going back to my last idea of finding a centrepiece fish, the only ones I could find were Pearl Gouramis but I would like to offer them some floating plants for security (plus I like how floating plants offer shade to the aquarium so win-win) but I need to slow the flow for them (that external filter would be just fine as long as I had a spray bar (which is a piece of piss to make so that's fine) and the other fish was a Festivum Cichlid but I saw that they grow to around 7 or 8 inches so that was out of the question until I get a bigger tank. Apart from those two I'm out of ideas but once I've got this external set up and stable I think I'll look more into Pearls but until then I'll leave it as it is.

If anyone has any suggestions though they would be greatly appreciated

[Stevie Mancini]

Yup, spray bar included

Pearl gourami are just beautiful, though 5 or more will me needed. Two females three males. Just my experience 

[Pilgrim89]

Yup, spray bar included

Excellent mate! thanks! 

Pearl gourami are just beautiful, though 5 or more will me needed. Two females three males. Just my experience 

I might be having second thoughts on Pearls though what with me having the Barbs. I would be hoping that because there's 14 of the Barbs that their potential to nip fins will be suppressed due to the number of them but I'm not sure so more research is needed haha

[plankton]

I know how to make it more acidic, but you need to be very careful adding acid to the tank, especially with the amount you use.
I believe Vale! does this with his chocolate/liquorice gourami tank(s), he's probably the most expert at it.

[Vale!]

I don't add acid direct from bottle to tank ; rather, I add it to the garden butt that I use to prepare change-water. The water is so soft that only a few drops of the acid that I typically use (80% phosphoric) in the 175 litres produces a significant pH drop.

From there, it takes a day or two for the pH/CO2/carbonate equilibrium to sort itself out and it's only then that I feel confident enough to depend on the pH reading that I get. I then adjust the volume of the water-changes, if necessary, such that they don't result in wide in-tank pH swings. I wouldn't add acid to a tank without that intermediary step -although in a tank with 'normal' GH/KH values the potential for worrisome pH swings is reduced somewhat, I suppose.

I should really have used the past tense above, because of late I've graduated almost completely to peat-infused reverse osmosis water. Via small water-changes I'm slowly converting all tanks to this and half-expecting most/all of my plants to die eventually as a consequence : we shall see which have the botanical balls to withstand the assault!

[Gingerlove05]

Lmao @ having botanical balls
Not your most eloquent of sentences but that still amused me no end Vale!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pilgrim89]

Thanks guys, I think I'll leave it as it is for now. Having some silly dramas in the house recently so progress is on hold for a while until things get sorted.
I would still love any suggestions for mid-sized peaceful tank mates that would be compatible with the fish in my signature. Also, ph is 7.8, hardness is 7dGH and temperature is 27  any suggestions would be appreciated

[Pilgrim89]

The latest in the series of photographs. The fish are coming along nicely 

[Gingerlove05]

Looking good
I looked at the first pic like "what the?!" Then read the title of it, suddenly made sense lmao


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk