Cichlid Salt concentration

Setting up a cichlid tank and added seachem cichlid lake salt.

I understand about adding more salt only as result of water changes. My
question is how do I verify whether I end up with too little or too much,
short of taking the sample to a store for them to stick it with a meter or
if I purchase a $70 meter (would rather not).

Is checking hardness GH enough? If out of range do i add more seachem?

Any help or links to info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Russ

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:34:08 -0400, "GSRS"
wrote:

Setting up a cichlid tank and added seachem cichlid lake salt.

I understand about adding more salt only as result of water changes. My
question is how do I verify whether I end up with too little or too much,
short of taking the sample to a store for them to stick it with a meter or
if I purchase a $70 meter (would rather not).

Is checking hardness GH enough? If out of range do i add more seachem?

Any help or links to info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Russ


Don't waste your money. Just use a good quality coral gravel and keep
the water clean and moving.

--
Steve Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software

EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
http://www.easynn.com

I have a 72 gallon Bow Front and a 75 gallon standard tank. Both have the
crushed coral for substrate, I have also pitched in a couple of limestone
rocks ( Texas Holey rock). My ph runs in the high 7's to the very low 8's.
My only problem is getting rid of all the babies that my fish keep
producing.

Richard

"GSRS" wrote in message
. ..
Setting up a cichlid tank and added seachem cichlid lake salt.

I understand about adding more salt only as result of water changes. My
question is how do I verify whether I end up with too little or too much,
short of taking the sample to a store for them to stick it with a meter or
if I purchase a $70 meter (would rather not).

Is checking hardness GH enough? If out of range do i add more seachem?

Any help or links to info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Russ




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Russ,

I have a 55 and I don't do any of the cichlid salt issues, I put them in my
water (Which is very hard water) and they thrive, I have Yellow Labs, Red
Tops, and some Hongi's, a snail as they wanted escargot one day and ate the
other, and a Pleco. I would say that if you purchased your meter for $70
you're crazy. This is only my opinion. I have 60 Cichlids in my 55 gal
tank. Good Luck!
Mike
"GSRS" wrote in message
. ..
Setting up a cichlid tank and added seachem cichlid lake salt.

I understand about adding more salt only as result of water changes. My
question is how do I verify whether I end up with too little or too much,
short of taking the sample to a store for them to stick it with a meter or
if I purchase a $70 meter (would rather not).

Is checking hardness GH enough? If out of range do i add more seachem?

Any help or links to info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Russ

"GSRS" wrote in
:

Is checking hardness GH enough? If out of range do i add more
seachem?

Testing your carbonate hardness (KH) and general hardness (GH) is enough.

Tanganyika cichlids:
10 - 14 dKH
12 - 20 dGH
7.5 - 9 pH

Malawi cichlids:
9 - 12 dKH
12 - 19 dGH
7.5 - 8.5 pH

Those are ballpark figures. These fish are ridiculously resilient and will
usually be comfortable and display their full colours in almost any
condition.

The KH is usually more important to monitor than your GH as the KH is your
alkali buffer for maintaining a high pH.

Again, if you miss the mark it is unlikely to phase most species.