Ways to control water conditions

[NinjaFly]

Hi all,

I believe there are many aquarists out there who are either new to the hobby or are just too shy to ask. (like me )

Anyway care to share tips of how to control water conditions and different ways (cheap) other than buying chemicals?

There are a few terms which some may be interested.
1. Hard/Soft Water
2. Acidic/Akaline Water (PH)
3. Carbonate Hardness
4. Brackish water
5. RO water
6. Matured tank (got such things as inmatured tank?)

As what I know, the amount of ions/minerals in the water contributes to the hardness/softness of the water. For planted tank, it will require a water hardness of 5. For planted tank, an optimum hardness of 5 is required.

Acidic water means having a PH lesser then 7 while Akaline water means having a PH greater then 7. Having lots of rotton leaves and introducing CO2 into the tank would lower the PH of the water while adding coral rocks/kH powder would increase the water hardness and PH.

Brackish water means having traces of salt in a Freshwater tank. Some fish like guppies requires that... However, does adding of salt changes the chemistry of the water?

RO water means Reverse Osmosis... (thanks to CoryFav for telling me that but .. I still dunno what it is )

Matured tank? Well, I guess a tank that is already stable with colonies of beneficial bacteria built up and well maintained for months....

Err.. that's it. If there is any misconception or definition, please feel free to comment. I believe it will benefit lots of people .. esp the novices! [] [] []

[DEA]

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On 6/21/2002 4:07:11 PM

There are a few terms which some may be interested.
1. Hard/Soft Water
2. Acidic/Akaline Water (PH)
3. Carbonate Hardness
4. Brackish water
5. RO water
6. Matured tank (got such things as inmatured tank?)
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hardness is actually divided into two
general hardness (gh) and carbonate hardness (kh)
gh has nothing to do with kh unless calcium/magnesium salts are used to buffer the water
as you might have inferred, gh is dependent on ca/mg ions in solution
this is the kind of hardness that causes lime scale and soap scum
not really relevant for us unless you're keen on breeding softwater fish

RO is a system to purify water by using nanofilament tubes iirc
the water seeps out while the impurities stay in the system
but not very water efficient

mature tanks are those with established biofilters imo