Large Water Changes When Playing With Water Chemistry

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:22:45 +1000, "swarvegorilla"
wrote:


"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
. ..

I was wondering if any of you take any special precautions when adding
tap water that has different chemistry than the tank water.

I'm assuming it would be important to either *not* do a large water
change *or* to add water very slowly, over a period of time when one
is doing say, CO2 injection, or is using driftwood, coral, etc. to
alter water parameters.

Is this true, or is whether you can do it based on certain guidelines
re the extent of chemical difference or fish species involved?

TIA

depends on the fish
sometimes merely matching temp is enuf
others they need a whole bloody week of acclimatisation
sigh

A Week!?! Holy cow.

it's always the tricky ones ya get cut about losin too

Yeah that's a shame.


Maybe you could help me with a more specific scenario?

I have a 55 gal planted tank. Tap water is pH 7.2, kH2, GH 5.
I have large chunks of Malaysian driftwood, that after 6 months
preparation probably still aren't ready for a tank, but look good
anyway. When sitting in tap water it causes a pH crash in no time. So
I'm preventing that in the tank with crushed coral in the filter. But
I still need to do large weekly water changes due to the driftwood
soup and fertilizer routine.

Now I'd like to add CO2 injection. I'm, expecting to add more crushed
coral to further raise the kH to a suitable level. If all goes
according to plan there would be a difference between the tank and tap
of about pH 6.8 & 7.2, kH 2 & 4 or so, GH yet unknown.

Is this too extreme for big water changes for Angels, blue rams,
otocinculous, Amano & Red Cherry Shrimp, Tai Flying fox, SAE's? Or
does it also have to do with the individual and its health?

Thanks

You have the right plan with the water changes
keep them small and regular
stability is the key here
I'd probably say your shrimp will be the 'canarys' as it were
start losing them or rams and you have to look at your regime
otherwise keep up the good work hey
Are your lights powerful enough for the plants to take advantage of the
extra co2?

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:24:27 +1000, "swarvegorilla"
wrote:

You have the right plan with the water changes
keep them small and regular
stability is the key here

Yes. Stability and KISS are my goals. Otherwise there's a lot of
room for me to screw up.

I'd probably say your shrimp will be the 'canarys' as it were
start losing them or rams and you have to look at your regime

The shrimp always seem to be hiding or blending in so they're hard to
tell. (The angels try to eat them if they are too bold). Actually I
don't have the rams yet. I'm not going to get any until I've made up
my mind about things.

otherwise keep up the good work hey
Are your lights powerful enough for the plants to take advantage of the
extra co2?

I *think* it's borderline. Right now I have 2x 65watt compact
fluorescent = 2.36 w/g. Basically I'm just trying to get information
and formulate plans for future changes. I was more serious about high
light + CO2 in the past, but shelved the idea because it was taking
too much time adjusting the water chemistry to support it on a running
tank and it looked like I was going to have to raise the pH too high
to get kH right with the approach I was using.

My plants aren't ideal, but things are improving. I'd like to see
them even better, and try things like riccia, but I'm not sure doing a
lot of regular gardening is really for me. The reality is, for my
lifestyle, I probably *should* be focusing on a stable low light tank.
My main concerns are always the fish, and limiting my time doing
maintenance. They've got me busy with all their fry. Frankly it's
already much too much.

Thanks to you and Bill for your input.

They've got me busy with all their fry. Frankly it's
already much too much.



ah yes, tis the life tho' no?

On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:51:09 +1000, "swarvegorilla"
wrote:

They've got me busy with all their fry. Frankly it's
already much too much.



ah yes, tis the life tho' no?

Indeed. Its funny how MTS creeps up on ya.

Those thoughts that seem so innocent at first starting with "wouldn't
it be nice if..." are real trouble.

"Jolly Fisherman" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:51:09 +1000, "swarvegorilla"
wrote:

They've got me busy with all their fry. Frankly it's
already much too much.



ah yes, tis the life tho' no?

Indeed. Its funny how MTS creeps up on ya.

Those thoughts that seem so innocent at first starting with "wouldn't
it be nice if..." are real trouble.

your tellin me
tomorrow I start on a new 6x2x2 foot long marine display.
bouncin' off the walls
and me blue claw yabby has eggs
w000t