jlewin_80

Hey, I just got a test kit for my 30g FW tank. My tank has been established for about 6 months now. My test results according to the booklet show that my water is very soft and has a really low pH. What problems could this cause and how do I fix it. Why is it like this in the first place? Here are my test results...

____________________Tap Water_____________Aquarium Water

PH__________________6.2___________________Off the chart; less than 6
ammonia____________0_____________________0
nitrite_______________0_____________________0.1mg/l
General Hardness_____less than 20mg/l________less than 20mg/l
Carbonate Hardness___less than 10mg/l________less than 40mg/l

My temp is 78f and I have plenty of aeration. Decor is plastic and epoxy covered gravel. My understanding is that the ph should be around 7 or 8 and I know very little about water hardness but I do know that it's too soft.

Nick G

Do you have any problems with your fish? If they are all fine, I wouldn't change anything as they are probably used to the PH levels and water hardness as they are.

first attempt

How about the nitrate level?

I had same situation as this, the fish looked healthy, but their longevity was being effected (tiger barbs).

I got some aragonite (rock containing CaCO3) to increase the KH and buffer the water. This also slowly raised the pH, and I must've guessed right with the quantity, cause it stopped exactly at 7.

That being said, I've still 4 2-year-old barbs that put up with the water conditions above for about 6months.

That aside, as the above poster said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Jess

Some Amazon fish like those readings. . .a lot! How are your fish acting.

I agree with firstattempt.