On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:41:14 -0500, wrote:

I never cycled the tank. I just dumped the fish in. Can you
tell I'm a completely idiotic newbie?
Hey...we've all done it at least once. I put ~15 feeder goldfish in
a 10 gallon tank and wondered why most of 'em died...

My tap water (from a well) has a very high ph (at least 8.8)
What should I do about it? It is terribly hard and has messed up
our pipes for years with lime deposits.
Mine is 8.0 and my goldies have been fine for 3+ years with no pH
adjustment. You could decrease the pH slowly with HCl or "pH
Decreaser"...But I'd be worried about the ammonia first. Maybe try
some ammo-carb or zeolite in the filter bag? Worry about the pH
once that's under control.

My uncle dug out an old Whisper filter that sits on the outside of the
glass. I bought a new filter bag and carbon for it. But it no longer
has the bio filter media.

I have been using "dollar store" 10/$1 scouring pads for years to
clean algae from the glass. I rinse them well first of course. I
suspect one would work OK as bio-media if you still have the holder.

The "Imagine Bio3" replacement filter for the Whisper includes a bio
foam pad and is cheaper than the whisper filters. Sold in
multi-packs at www.Petsolutions.com and maybe your LFS.

FYI, I use nylon stocking (pantyhose) instead of the filter bag when I
don't need the charcoal...once the tank is cycled and settled.
Laundered & well-rinsed of course...I can get 6-8 filters out of a
pair...cut it 1-2" longer than the filter frame and fold it up at the
bottom...bunch it up at the top so the clip will hold it. Don't try
to rinse & reuse...toss & replace. CHEAP.

Also, is spring water OK to use for water changes?
Probably...
I'd want to test it first to know what's in it. Might be just as hard
and high pH as your tap water(or worse). Also, you don't want to
shock 'em with a pH change.
I use my 8.0 pH Lake Erie tap water with a chlorine/chloramine
remover. works fine.

Best of luck!

--Don in Cleveland OH

Don Byrer
Commercial Pilot / CFI Student
Electronics Technician, RADAR/Data/Comm @ CLE
Amateur Radio KJ5KB

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..."
"I know what it sounds like....when doves cry" (Bird Strike 8/29/05)