Keeping wild caught fish. Crossband chocolate gouramis

Can I ask how you maintain pH with the tds at 31 ppm? Even if I assume all tds is due to carbonates it still leave the kH at 1.5 degrees. I think I may be opening a can of worms now

 

Very interesting... and yes... we always get good advice from Marco.

So far sounds good so keeping fingers crossed that it works!!

 

This is a hard one. The substrate buffers the ph to about 6.5. But according to the relationship between ph and tds, that is now if you do a www search, will tell you that lower ph has a higher tds. I'm completely in the dark with all the technical stuff as my knowledge doesn't reach that far.

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Test results are in.

Temp 28°
Tds 38ppm
PH 6,5
NH4 <0,05 mg/l
NO2 <0,01 mg/l
NO3 20 mg/l
KH +/- 1,5°dKH
GH +/- 15°dKH

I used a JBL test kit for these test. Did a secondary pH test with a Salifert test kit. But none of these test will be right regarding pH. What I understand, about liquid test kits, is that in soft water the readings are not close to accurate. Or is that for a pH pen?

KH was tested with 10ml of water where each drop of solution gives a reading of 0,5°dKH. Testing sample never turned blue but went yellow with the 3rd drop. GH was determend on a sliding scale which combines pH and KH. Scale only goes down to 2°dKH.

All of this is basicly useless without an accurate pH test result which will only be achieved by using a lab grade pH probe. Fortunately I have a connection at the Pretoria Zoo's aquarium that does have such a probe. Will send a sample to her to get a accurate reading as soon as possible.

@TheGrissom maby you have more insight into this? I didn't fully answer your question regarding the pH in my previous post. The pH in the tank is brought down with Oak leaves, coconut fiber and now the alder cones.

Actually the test I'm mostly relying on is NO2 and NO3 at the moment. So no wc this week. Holding thums on this one. The Langa substrate should buffer the pH to 6,5 but it is possible that is lower.

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This isnt true. TDS is a measurement of how many dissolved solids are in your water. It doesnt affect your pH as pH is the measurement of the -log[H3O+]. TDS will pick up any dissolved minearals and ions in your water. for example nitrates and metals will add to your tds without changing your pH or being helpful to the water quality. And also lower pH can have an almost zero tds as nothing is stopping the pH from dropping uncontrollably.

 

I am referring more to how do you buffer your pH. What happens is the kH is a measurement of how buffered your water is. If the buffering is low then the pH is easier to change. Naturally the pH tends to drop rather than rise. What happens is if there is no buffering the pH could crash, meaning a rapid change downwards which results in all the fish dying.

 

Right - ammonia and nitrites are fine. Nitrates are on the limit. kH is a bit low (typically should be 2 - 5 dkH), assuming gH is 1.5 as 15 is massive.

Something doesnt add up - your tds is 38 ppm (mg/L) but your kH and gH and nitrates added together come to about 70 ppm. All of these contribute to TDS.

 

The Langa substrate buffers the pH. I'm well aware of the dangers of a low tds and what it can do to your tanks pH.

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Ok. Never used Langa substrate before. Glad you are aware of the water chemistry - many people dont pay much attention to it. IMO it is the most important part of being an aquariast.

 

I'm just hoping I understand what I read correctly cause there is a lot of contradictions on the www.

Just as an example.
https://www.google.co.za/amp/s/www....the_TDS_level_has_been_reduced_marginally/amp

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The gouramis actually made me more aware of water chemistry

 

Almost 3 months old and they are exact copies of the adults. Still very small at under 2cm but perfect.

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Oh my.... they are SO cute @pierreschoonraad !!!

 

Why am I reading this thread only just now ?
Awesome Pierré. Well done mate.

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Thanks @MariaS and @DoubleDutch.

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Awesome, just awesome. Is the female still holding eggs?

 

Thanks @Nico Hamman. Yes they are, so they are still activly breeding. I hope I rectified my mistake on this tank over the weekend. From the start I had 1 peppered corrie, that hatched in the tank, with them. I had some other peppered corrie fry, in a seperate tank, and a while ago I added 5 of them to the choc tank.

After looking at everything that I have done with this tank, over the last 4 months, this was the 1 non routine thing done. So I have removed them, hoping that this will give more security to the females to hold the eggs to maturity. I have already noticed a return to normal behaviour from them as they are more in the open again.

Sitting in front of the fry tank last night I'm not sure I want these little guys to go.

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I feel that way about many of my fish as well. When I sell them it feels like I am selling my dog. There is an emotional attachment to fish that I have raised. Makes me very selective to whom I sell my fish

 

Same here. The rainbows are not that bad but these litlle guys are a complete different story.

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Agreed!!!

You need another tank.....

 

Be sure : get some more in advance !


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