Hi from Australia!

[Dusty]

Hi everyone!
I am Dusty.
I have been keeping a 10G tropical tank for the last 13 years with mixed success.
My last 2 fishes died last month (we were away for 10 days,the heater died and the weather was around the zero degrees Cel.)
I got two new silver dollars and a bristle nose.
I just bought a new 50G aquarium with a canister filter and I am getting into the nitty-grtitty of the hobby again to set it up.
So I need a lot of help from the brother/sisterhood. Never seen a canister filter or any other filter apart from my Undergavel.
After so many years I finally found out why my PH was going always to the asidic side. Our tap water in Melbourne is very soft. The KH of the tank water is around 35ppm and the GH is less than 17ppm. I am applying some KH powder but apparently is not enough. Need to harden the water a bit. What's your advice?
Cheers to everyone in this very lively community!
Dusty

[celticfish]

Welcome to AQ Dusty!

You've been very disciplined for the 13 years...
Only one 10 gallon tank!
Quite a few of us are chronic MTS sufferer's...

I'd suggest there are two ways to your soft water issue.
One, buy chemical additives like Seachem's Equilibrium (for gH), Alkaline Buffer (for kH), etcetera.
You can research their website for more information ---> here
They have products for specific kinds of fauna too, like Malawi Victoria Buffer.

Two, and cheaper way, place a bag or coral chips in your cannister filter.
It will maintain your kH and gH.
You will need experiment with the amount of chips required to maintain your water parameters you desire.

Don't forget its important to figure/decide what you want to keep too!
Then what you need to do for the fauna will fall in place or you can get more specific answers to your questions.

[Dusty]

Thanks, CelticFish!
I will keep only fish, requiring soft slightly acidic water.
Well, the only reason I've been disciplined with this hobby was the nonexistence of Internet and soul mates the first years. I had got some books and the advise of the LFS, but that only gave me very limitted success and a lot of heartbreak.
And then the last two fishes lasted for 3 - 4 years after all the rest. So I did not push.
Well, thanks for the advice again.
Dusty

[katmurphie24]

hey dusty, where abouts in aus do you abode???

[Dusty]

Hi Katmurphie,
I live in Melbourne. In fact in a suburb 35 km away from the City center.
Regards
Dusty

[katmurphie24]

hey dusty im in a suburb bout 40km from melb.... where do you shop for your fishies??
and just call me kat... murphie is my dogs name ;0)

[Wackytpt]

Welcome to the forum.

Hope you enjoy your stay in this forum.

Cheers

[Dusty]

Thank for your wellcome Nicholas.
I think, yours is the best forum! I already have learned a lot, just browsing, and had a lot of questions answered without posting them!
Hi, Kat! I live in Mooroolbark and have been buying fishes in the area with mixed success. Some have proved bad stock through the years. As I am restarting the hobby, I plan on stricking some friendships in the LFS's around. Which area do you live and what's your experience buying fishes?
I am Edith. My talking starling, who lives in my ensuit is Dusty. I envy her the name, so I stole it.
Cheers
Edith

[Wackytpt]

Thanks for the compliement.

It really encourages us (the moderator team) to knows that our members are learning stuff from the forum.

We will continue to make the forum even better for our members.

[eeeeemo]

Hey guys. Welcome to AQ~!

I am going over to melbourne next year.
really need to check out the LFSs in the area..
are Plecos hard to get there?
what are the prices like?
how much does a basic tank cost?
I will be living @ william street.

jia yuan

[katmurphie24]

hey Jia,
yes pleco's are expensive over here even if you know the right people....

Edith is a beautiful name ;0) its my mum's mums name so i love it!!!! hmmmm you want god stock?? come see me ;0)

[Dusty]

Hi Jia.
Best go to an Australian forum and they will help you with all information:
http://www.myaquarium.com.au/forum/

I have not been too active in this hobby and trying to figure the fishy things in Melbourne myself.
Hey Kat,
Where abouts are you? By the way my father's mother was Edith and I got her name.
Love