Question on chemistry . . .


if pH 7 is neutral (neither acidic or alkaline)

and pH 8 is 10x more alkaline

10 X 0(neutral) = 0


back to reality (just saying 10X is not really our experience of the log
scale of pH)

a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 hardly affects the biology
my experience is that a consistent pH is far mor important (for fresh water)
than being "right on the number"





"CanadianCray" wrote in message
...
"Such a helpful post from Cray. And even top-posted to break my
newsreader. "

This I don't quite understand, but anyway.

Labidochromis caeruleus (Electric Yellow) likes hard alkaline water around
76-82 degrees with a ph of at least 8 but preferably 8.2. It is really not
a
good idea to play around with a fish's PH. Most people don't understand
how
PH scale works. The pH scale runs from 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline), with
neutral pH 7 in the middle. The pH scale is logarithmic, which means, for
example, that pH 5 is ten times more acidic than pH 6. So by taking a fish
that likes 8.2 & placing it in a tank with a Ph of 7 or 7.5 you are
basically placing it in water that is 10X more acidic than they are
supposed
to be in. How would you like that. Also in the wild they live between 6 to
120 feet where they feed on mostly insects & snails. So feeding them a
traditional tropical fish diet is not great.

I did not mean to sound crass before but I think people should provide the
proper environment for their fish if they are going to keep them.

Craig
________________________________
www.CanadianCray.tk
www.Bluecrayfish.com
"Larry" wrote in message
...
Hi Elaine,

Such a helpful post from Cray. And even top-posted to break my
newsreader.

Love your style ;-}

snip
Cichlids don't generally need a "buddy" though. They are quite happy as
the king or queen of their own tiny little world. And you don't have to
worry about a lone lab pairing up and breeding.


I was going to ask Craig where I made mistake but decided to check out
the specs on the fish. Most seemed compatible with my soft water- ph
about 7.5-8. Specs said all my fish would eat almost anything so I
just left it at that. You are right about the lab and soft water.
Hope he/she adjusts.

Maybe I can ask you or others about food selection. Right now I mixed
some veggie flakes, tetra mix type flakes and a pinch of dried blood
worms for each small meal. Any other suggestions?

Thanks Elaine and others who might help me on the food thing.

All the best,

Larry
Ontario