ripping

The illusion of photography mostly. !! I'm still battling algae and decimation from Apple snails.... And many plants in the tank are only a week or two old. (went shopping at hollywood)

not too sure the stones. Most appear to be 'hard' stone, such as granite and a little obsidian, but then I'm no geologist. Certainly the water going in is high pH (as tested) and the wood in the small tank is only getting it down to 7.2 or so. And I did have the same sort of high reading before using stones in there (or wood). I'm thinking about using a CO2 system for the bigger tank, so that should knock the pH down a notch or two for that one. But fishies seem to be doing ok for the moment. and thankyou..

thanks for all replies. The tap water tastes ok to me... but then... I'm no water connoisseur either! I'll look out for a 'high level' pH kit, or more likely a probe to get a better idea of what I've got. Might even phone the council. Rainwater could be an option, tho would not like to be too dependent on that, esp during summer months. I do have a smaller tank with a lot of wood in it. I just did a pH test on that and got 7.2. So quite right, the wood does seem to drop the pH, tho it is leaving quite a dark tannin stain to the water. Maybe I could just transfer 1 smaller piece over to see the effect it might have. My medium term plan is to go with Discus in the bigger tank I've yet to set up. I hope I can manage the conditions to allow that.

probably nothing. but its not 7.6. Its well above that... 8.0, 8.5 9.0?, I really don't know, the pH test kit indicates >7.6. I do know it takes a lot of 'pH down' to get it below 7.6.

I've had a 100l tank set up for about three weeks. Things are ticking over nicely apart from the demise of a couple of neons and an ancistrus. Tests done tonight show >pH7.6, 0 Ammonia, 10ppm nitrates, 0 nitrites. The tap water shows pH value of >7.6 too. Is there anything I can/should safely do to reduce the pH? I do have some 'pH Down' product that I've used before, but consensus here seems to be NOT to use chemicals to reduce pH. Would that even apply to my high pH? I have an idea its well over 8.0 straight from the tap. Setup is 100l with Fluval 205. Around 15 plants of different varieties. 8 Neons, 8 lemons, 2 Gouramis, 5 Glass catfish, 2 Kuhli's, 1 pleco. 1 Chinese algae eater, 1 Ancistrus.

Thanks for the advice Caryl, I have just completed an ammonia test. with no discernable level present. I've added a few shots of 'cycle' since the tank has been running, so I'm hoping thats given the system a good head start. I've 'overfiltered' the tank too as I'm running a Fluval 205, capable of maintaining a 200litre tank (it says), so that should help keep me on the 'plus' side too.

thanks and hello to all. yes tank has been cycled for a couple of weeks with a few goldfish in there... The Chinese algae eater I know is more a temperate condition fish. I got him originally to go with the goldfish, But he seems to do well in the warmer temperature and causes no problems with its tankmates at this stage. He is in fact quite a tough little character.. having endured all my beginners mistakes! You may well forsee my downfall, and with good reason.. but for some people its the only way we learn. Tho I do hope your a little wide of the mark. Having said that.. i lost a neon overnight. I'll be building a pond over summer I'd imagine as I see I have too many of the goldies...

Finally posting for the first time. Been here a few weeks looking around. Was a very poor fish keeper a good few years ago, now I have the bug again with a little more seriousness. I have two tanks set up, the first a 54l, with too many goldfish.. about 12.. tho they are small! I kicked this off about 6 weeks ago, and learnt a few things with water chemistry and such. Also found out that goldfish and plants don't seem to mix too well ! So now I have a 900x300x380 (100 odd litres) set up with a range of fauna, and added a few fish this last weekend. 10 neons, 5 glass catfish, and a pair of Blue Cobalt Gourami's, oh, and a Chinese Sucking Loach. I've just cleaned out my old 225l tank, which will be coming together over the next few weeks. And heres a few photos of the flora